A favorite squash of Sicilians, cucuzza squash, meaning ‘super long squash,’ is gaining some popularity in North America. Never heard of cucuzza squash plants? 

Also known under a wide range of other names such as Zucchetta Cucuzzi, Serpent of Sicily, Italian Edible Gourd, Longissima, Bottle Gourd, Calabash, Suzza Melon, Zucca, Tasmania Bean, Guinea Bean, New Guinea Bean, White Flowered Gourd and Indian Squash, is a vine is an annual plant with hairy, shallow lobed leaves and white flowers (unlike squash which are always yellow flowered). The vines can run up to 25 feet in length.

Cucuzza is a summer squash in the botanical family of Lagenaria, which boasts a plethora of other varieties. This edible squash is related to the calabash, also known as water gourd or bird’s nest gourd. A vigorous squash, fruit is born from vines that can grow two feet (0.5 m.) a day. The fruits are straight, green gourds, occasionally with a minor curve to them. The skin is dark green and medium hard. The fruit itself can grow 10 inches (25 cm.) per day and will be 18 inches to 2 feet (45-60 cm.) long. The squash is usually peeled and the seeds removed from the larger fruit. The squash can be cooked just like any other summer squash – grilled, stewed, fried, stuffed, or roasted. Intrigued? I bet you’re wondering how to grow cucuzza squash now.

Big Max pumpkins are large, round, pale to bright orange pumpkins known for their thick, yellow-orange flesh and ability to grow over 100 pounds. They are named for their impressive size, making them suitable for carving into large Jack-o'-lanterns, use in competitions, or for canning and pie fillings. Big Max pumpkins require full sun, fertile soil, and a long growing season of approximately 120 days to reach their full potential.  

A vegetable garden stalwart for decades, the Dark Green Zucchini – or Summer Squash – is a must. This variety is a very reliable producer of easy-to-grow and delicious zucchini. Harvest at around 6 to 8 inches long.

Growing ash gourd (also known as winter melon or white gourd) in Canada, especially in cooler regions, requires starting seeds indoors and using heat-loving techniques. Ash gourd needs a long growing season and thrives in warm, sunny conditions, so starting seeds early and providing a greenhouse or warm environment is crucial for success. 

Start indoors 4 weeks before last frost or sow directly outdoors after last frost.

Sow seeds 1 cm deep. Days to Germinate: 5-6 days.

Days to Maturity: 55-60 days.

Grey zucchini are summer squash with greyish-green skin, light green flesh, and tiny edible seeds. They have a delicate flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked in a variety of ways. Shred zucchini for muffins, breads, and cakes, or grill and serve as a perfect summer side dish.

Orange-gold fruits that size up to 25 lbs.

Ideal size for big jack-o'-lanterns and fall decorations.

Sugar Pie Pumpkins are the traditional pumpkin for making pumpkin pies. It is because of their sweet, fine grained, orange flesh which is often more firm and less stringy than their carving cousins. They are a smaller pumpkin that weighs 1.0-3.1 kg (2-7lbs) each and be 10-25cm (4-10”) around.

A vegetable garden stalwart for decades, the Dark Green Zucchini – or Summer Squash – is a must. This variety is a very reliable producer of easy-to-grow and delicious zucchini. Harvest at around 6 to 8 inches long.

Open, erect plants are nearly spineless resulting in less damage to fruit during harvest. Dark-skinned zucchinis are popular in the western regions.

The Cinderella pumpkin, also known as Rouge Vif d'Etampes, is a large, flat, and decorative winter squash with a bright red-orange color and a sweet, edible flesh.

The Cinderella pumpkin has a rich, moist, custard-like flesh that's sweet and flavorful. It's often used in pies, breads, cookies, cakes, soups, and casseroles.