VegetableSquash
Zucchini Italian Striped Squash
Italian Striped is a traditional summer squash that brings Old World flavor to modern gardens. Named for its distinctive dark green skin striped with lighter bands, this Cucurbita pepo cultivar produces tender, flavorful fruit ready to harvest in just 50 to 59 days. Unlike true zucchini, it has a slightly larger blossom end and can be picked small for delicate texture or left to grow up to 12 inches long while retaining excellent flavor. Hardy across zones 3 through 13, it thrives in full sun and moderate moisture, making it reliable for gardeners at nearly any latitude.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The dark green stripes against a lighter background are visually striking in the garden and on the plate, but the real appeal is its heritage pedigree as a traditional Italian favorite. Early harvests yield tender squash, yet this variety doesn't lose quality if left to mature larger, a flexibility that matters when life gets busy. The slightly larger blossom end distinguishes it botanically from true zucchini, a detail that hints at its unique genetics and contributes to its reliable performance season after season.
Common Uses
Italian Striped shines sliced thin and sautéed, where its tender flesh and excellent flavor become a vehicle for garlic and olive oil. It's equally at home grilled, roasted whole when young, or grated into fritters and pasta dishes. The firm texture when harvested at smaller sizes makes it reliable for any summer squash preparation, from raw salads to long-cooked ragùs.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors about 45 days before your last frost date, sowing into warm soil (70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit). Plan to transplant seedlings outdoors roughly two weeks after the last frost, once soil has warmed and hardened-off plants can establish quickly.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings after the last frost date when soil temperature has risen and all frost danger has passed. Space plants 36 inches apart, allowing adequate room for the bushy growth habit to develop. Harden off seedlings gradually to outdoor conditions before planting.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Space seeds appropriately for 36-inch plant spacing, allowing for thinning if needed.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting when fruit reaches a tender, eating stage, typically 50 to 59 days after sowing. Italian Striped can be picked small for delicate texture or left to grow up to 12 inches long while maintaining excellent flavor; choose based on your intended preparation. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season. The distinctive dark green stripes on a lighter background make ripe fruit easy to spot among the foliage.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita Pepo
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Also known as Cocozelle Zucchini, Italian Striped carries the culinary traditions of Italy forward through seed saving and catalog cultivation. This heirloom was preserved by gardeners and seed companies who recognized its superior flavor and beautiful striped appearance, recognizing it as distinct enough from true zucchini to warrant its own identity. Its presence in modern seed catalogs reflects generations of Italian gardeners who selected and saved seed from the best-performing plants, maintaining a direct line from ancestral gardens to today's home vegetable patches.”