Zuchinni

Zucchini, Courgette, Baby Marrow, Italian Squash, Cucurbita pepo

Botanical name of Zucchini

Zucchini is a plant, which is also known as baby marrow. The botanical name of Zucchini is Cucurbita pepo. It belongs to the pumpkin family. Zucchini is also commonly known as Courgette or Italian Squash.

Growing Baby Marrows

Baby Marrows grow in the summer. Seeds are planted on mounds about 3-5 cm deep. It is best to plant them in-situ, as they do not transplant well.
Like other pumpkins, they don’t like their leaves wet, except by rain. Always water them at ground level, taking care not to wet the leaves.
Though unlike pumpkin, Zucchini grows without a tangle of runners that spread like wildfire. Instead it grows tall and contains itself in a much smaller area than other pumpkin family members.
A good dose of liquid manure when the seeds germinate will ensure healthy growth. When they start to flower, after about three months, another dose will be in order.

Companions of Courgettes

Courgettes especially enjoy being planted around friends like bean, mint, radish, nasturtium and sweetcorn. They do not mind other plants around them.
The beans help to fix nitrogen, and the mint and nasturtiums keep the insects at bay.
Zucchini are very good at choking out weeds. Their huge leaves create shade that no weed can compete with.

Harvesting Zucchini

Zucchini have small fleshy cucumber-like fruits. After the zucchini start to flower, the fruits will appear in a few days. Once they have started to flower, check them regularly so you can harvest them when they are between eight and ten centimetres long.
Let the name “baby” not fool you, they can grow up to 35-50 cm long if you don’t watch them. Then you can call them Giant Baby Marrows.
If you go away for a few days during harvesting season, ask a friend to pick them for you, otherwise you will have loads of giant baby marrow when you get back. Even though, the giant ones are usable to a point. When they grow up to about 90 cm long they become fibrous and inedible.

Cooking with Baby Marrows

The flowers can be eaten either fresh in salad, stuffed or used in soups and sautés Zucchini fruit can be used in a variety of soups, stews and salads. They do not store well, so you have to use them up fairly quickly. When you do have huge courgettes, about 30-50cm long you can use them as follows:
1-2 Giant Baby Marrow
2 potatoes
1 Onion
Oil for frying
½ cup of peas
garlic
fresh herbs ( oregano, basil, thyme)
salt pepper paprika
½ cup grated Cheese

Cut the marrow, length ways and scoop out the insides till the wall is 4 cm thick. Chop up the potatoes and add the peas and the scooped out marrow, add the herbs and spices and fill the shell of the marrow with the mixture. Sprinkle the cheese on top and wrap in foil. Bake at 180°C for one hour.