Costata Romanesco Zucchini Summer Squash

55 days — We first tried this Italian heirloom zucchini variety in 2006 when it was sent to us by a gardener from Merlin, Oregon. She noticed that we did not offer it and recognizing its merits, wanted us to know about it! She told us that she had been growing it for years and that, "although they only produce about half the amount of most [modern hybrid] zucchini varieties, their flavor is far superior." 

The fruits are ready to start eating when they are about six inches long but don't disregard or discard the larger ones. They are excellent sauteed, stir fried, or grilled. The texture of their flesh is smooth and tender and they have a nutty flavor distinctive from other zucchini varieties. As its name implies (Costata means "rib" in Italian), the fruits have deep ribs which makes very interestingly shaped cross sections.

If you are too impatient to wait for the fruits, or you just love fried zucchini blossoms (Fiori di Zucca Fritti), the blossoms have a wonderfully, mild squash flavor and can be used in salads, soups, pasta recipes or stuffed and deep fried. Each packet contains two grams, which is approximately 14 to 16 seeds.