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Cocozelle Zucchini is a traditional Italian heirloom introduced in the late 1800s that brings old-world charm and prolific harvests to modern gardens. Its cylindrical fruits emerge dark green with distinctive lighter green stripes, a visual signature that sets it apart from modern solid-green zucchini varieties. The tender flesh and excellent flavor have made it a garden favorite for generations, and it matures quickly in 40 to 49 days. Hardy across zones 3 through 13, it thrives in full sun and moderate water, reaching a mature height of 24 to 30 inches with a spreading growth habit that rewards gardeners with abundant yields.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-13
30in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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This heirloom zucchini produces tender, flavorful fruits with a distinctive appearance that tells the story of its Italian heritage. Best harvested young, the fruits deliver excellent eating quality and the plant yields prolifically throughout the season. Even the delicate blossoms are edible, offering home cooks the bonus of beer-battered and fried zucchini flowers as a traditional treat.
Cocozelle excels as a fresh eating zucchini when harvested young, when its tender flesh and excellent flavor shine brightest. Beyond the familiar sliced or grilled preparations, the plant's prolific blossoms are prized for frying as a delicacy. The cylindrical fruits also adapt well to stuffing, ratatouille, and other Italian-influenced dishes where the plant's heritage naturally guides the kitchen.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant hardened seedlings into the garden only after the last frost date, when soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 36 inches apart in rows 48 inches distant to accommodate the spreading growth habit.
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last frost date, when soil temperature reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination.
Harvest Cocozelle zucchini young for the best eating quality, cutting the cylindrical fruits from the vine with a sharp knife when they are still tender. The distinctive dark green fruits with lighter green stripes are easiest to spot among the foliage. Early and frequent harvesting encourages continued flowering and fruit production throughout the season. The edible blossoms should be harvested in the morning when they are fully open, ideally just before cooking.
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“Cocozelle carries the legacy of Italian market gardeners who cultivated it through the late 1800s, passing seeds and knowledge through generations. This open-pollinated heirloom arrived in home gardens as immigration brought Italian families and their foodways across the Atlantic, where it has been preserved and treasured by gardeners ever since. The variety represents a living connection to traditional European vegetable cultivation, saved by countless gardeners who recognized its superior flavor and productivity.”