Can you help? Looking for calabacitas

Hi. I have a very good friend from Chihuahua who told me how delicious the Mexican zucchini called calabacitas was. She'd like very nuch to grow it here in Ohio where she now lives, (and so would I!) but she has no seeds. Is it possible any of you fine Texas citizens might be growing calabacitas in your gardens? It looks a lot like our dark green zucchinis but is a little tubbier toward the blossom end, and is colored white and green mixed.

The other issue would be, should I find calabacitas in a Mexican grocery store, can I collect seeds from it, and if so, how?

Thanks in advance, even if you can't help.

Melis

Usually we get those at our local Fiesta store which is oriented toward Hispanic trade but everyone no matter their heritage shops there. Hope tha helps.

Ann

Here is a recipe that sounds delicious.

http://www.grouprecipes.com/5159/calabacitas.html

Here is a website with lots of different zucchini seeds.
http://www.vegetableseed.net/heirloom-vegetable-seeds/heirloom-squash-seeds/zucchini-seeds/zucchini-seeds.html



This message was edited Aug 16, 2008 9:39 AM

Thanks to you both. Do you know how to get seeds from a zucchini, or cucumber, for that matter. i've got a heritage cucumber we're growing this year and I need to get seeds from it. Do I leave it on the vine, or dry it out or what?

Melis

Here is a good website that should help. The main thing is that the seeds get good and dry before storage. I store my seeds in little glass jars here in my house. You can also store them in envelopes as long as they stay dry. Lin

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/65897/harvesting_and_drying_vegetable_seeds.html?page=2&cat=24

Melis
I found out that calabacitas are Tatuma squash
http://www.plantanswers.com/breakout/qa6783.html
I sent them an e-mail yesterday as I would be interested in some seed also. I'll see if they respond.

This is what they are supposed to look like:
http://www.melissas.com/images/products/2327a.jpg

Edited to say that squash is spelled Tatume squash. Under this name I found several sources.





This message was edited Aug 16, 2008 11:14 PM

I can definitely try to look for the seeds around here. I'm as close to Chihuahua as possible... I see them (and eat them) in stores everyday, so they should also have them as seeds somewhere. Here they call it Mexican Zucchinis. It's easy to send a pack of seeds.
Alexandra

O, *thankyou* Alexandra! You would be making several families here in Ohio *very-very* happy!!! I'll gratefully reimburse you for your trouble!


Woopee!!!

Melis

Bettydee, I saw that when I tried looking up 'Mexican zucchini', but wasn't entirely sure it was the same thing. I found this photo, and it looks similar shape, but whiter to me, does it to you, too? Or the same?

I thought I remembered reading someplace in my researches that calabacitas and tatume were similar but not really the same. Does anybody know for sure?

This message was edited Aug 17, 2008 10:06 AM

I encountered several problems as well. The first one was the spelling og the name. When I searched under Tatuma squash, I didn't get much, but did get the San Antonio link and a link to a photo of the squash that looks very similar to one green one in your photo. The description says it is zucchini like,but the fruit was greener. When I discovered the Tatume spelling, I ran into other problems. One problem was shape. One Tatume squash is shaped like our two photos. The other Tatume is round as in this photo from A & M database:
http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/pic1/tatuma.jpg
Notice that the calabacita pictured above is not the same as Tatume(a). Very confusing. A wholesale seed grower (can't find the link now) listes another variety of zucchini like squash as being very popular in Mexico and is known as calabacita. Having looked through scads of seed catalogs in my life, I know there are several summer squash with the same shape as the one you posted. I have a feeling that calabacita, which means small squash, refers to several different varieties with the same shape. One that retains its consistancy when cooked. Even zucchini works if left on the vine til it gets about 12" - 15" long.

A solution would be to try several of the cultivars that are slightly larger at the bloom end, such as the ones in the photos.

Sounds like your searches and mine were following each other pretty closely. I know Myjella described her calabacitas was swollen at the blossom end and that it was green and white mixed together. I guess we'll try a couple. If any of them taste better than the current dark zucchini one finds in the store, then we'll be ahead of the game, won't we?! Alexandra, I'm still interested in whatever you can find!

Thanks all!

Melis

Melissande, I will let you know as soon as I can.
Alexandra

Alexandra, if you do find seeds, I would some seed, too. I would gladly pay for seed, postage and gas.
Veronica

Well, then, anybody that would like some, please let me know. A good (temporary) deadline would be this Wednesday, when I have planned a shopping trip. No worries if you post afterwards either. I don't know when new seeds appear in stores here, so I might need another visit anyway. I'm counting on the fact that being here, on the border, with a lot of Mexican population (or descendants) it will be easier to find them.
One can definitely find some zucchinis that are called Mexican zucchinis in the food stores, they really are tasty, they are my favorites too. For me the second place is held by the dark green ones, and the last by the yellow ones.
As for the second question, about gathering seeds from the ones in stores: in my opinion, no, you can't. They are harvested while still young, and I think the seeds are immature. But, it never hurts to try...
Melissande and Bettydee, placed you "on my list".
Alexandra

Goody. Feel free to drop me a line via D-mail if you like to let me know what you need to do this.-Melis

well, first update is not cheering... local HD has no such seed. The food store we shop at doesn't have seeds either. My next attempt will be on Saturday. However, the new seed crops appeared at HD.
Wish me luck!

If you're up to it I can get you directions on how to collect seed from them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing a side-of-the-road or farmer's market type veg would be better for this. Or are the ones picked for eating not mature enough for seed collecting?

Melis

In the latest TX Gardener, there was an inquiry for Tatume seed. The suggestion was www.victoryseeds.com. http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/cucurbita/squash_summer.html About halfway down....

I ran across this website when I searched the web. Unfortunately Victory Seed's description doesn't include a photo. They refer to the fruit as being round. The description fits the squash in the background of this photo: http://botany.cs.tamu.edu/FLORA/pic1/tatuma.jpg
This photo from A & M's Digital Library refers to the fruit in the foreground as "Calabacita" implying that Tatume and calabacita are not the same. If you look carefully, you can see that the tags on the two squashes in the photo are different.

I believe the ones in the newspaper were the round ones--NOT the ones I'm looking for. Tatume can also be this green baseball thing.

Unfortunately 'calabacitas' is kind of a generic term. I don't think the one I want will mature into a winter squash.

Melis

Well, we'll keep searching. Anybody with a photo is welcome. And next time I go grocery-shopping, I'm going to photograph my Mexican zucchinis!
Melissande, They are really too young to harvest seed from, so tender, yumm! But giving details on how to save seed is always welcome!
I'll keep looking.
Alexandra

If you look back through the posts, Alexandra, you'll see a photo I posted of the sort of calabacitas I'm looking for, next to yellow summer squash. Let me see if I can find one of the sort I *don't* want too so you can make sure not to pick up the wrong one.

This one is the 'wrong'un'...

...and this is the right'un!

Melis

Notice in the last picture, all the zucchini except the dk green one are a little pear-shaped, and also lighter than the dk green one. The one you're looking for resembles one of these lighter, pear-shaped ones. Majella described it as 'green and white'.

I'm sure the round one is delicious, but it's not the one Majella's looking for. She specifically said it was fatter at the blossom end.

Melis

This'll keep you amused while you look: (from an online gardener's mag)

"Experienced gardener's know that Zucchini is one of the most prolific plants in all of the gardening world. A single plant produces a seemingly endless supply of Zucchini. A small row of zucchini has the potential to end world hunger.

By the time August arrives, gardeners are reaping far more zucchini than they can possibly use. They use it daily in an untold number of recipes, from soups and stews, to breads and dips. Still, the fruit matures on the vine faster than anyone can even pick it. Zucchini growers become desperate, as they try to give zucchini away to family, friends and everyone they encounter. By August, even non-gardeners have had enough. Everyone avoids you, with your arms laden with giveaway fruit.

Desperate times calls for desperate measure. It's time to sneak over, under the cover of darkness, to your neighbors porch, and unload some zucchini. Today is that day. "

(One year we snuck out of the house at 3 a.m. and stuck them in all the mailboxes we could reach from the kerb on the next two streets over!-Melis)

Getting seed from zucchini:

Leave zucchini squash on the vine until they harden so the seeds will
be large and fully developed. Slice the zucchini open lengthwise, and
pick out unblemished seeds by hand. There’s no need to soak the pulp
in water before separation.

This leaves our grocery store ones out of the picture just as you suspected Alexandra.

This pic shoulda went with the previous post.

Melis

Hello again!
I might be onto something! Didn't find any seed this weekend, but...
Our landlord is fixing the roof of the house. Her brother, who is supervising the work, is of Mexican origin. I asked him about the calabacitas and of where I would find an ethnic store with seeds and stuff (I am sooooo new in El Paso, I have no idea where). He said that this afternoon he'll go for some more materials with the crew, and he's going to look and buy me some if he finds. I asked for two packs (Melis and Betty).
Keep your fingers crossed!
Alexandra

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

BLOO THOOA!!!

Melis (tongue crossed too.)

Just wanted you to know I didn't forget, but I didn't find it yet. I'll keep looking.
Hugs, everyone.

it's frustrating as I've followed different leads about 6-7 times only to have them fizzle. well...there's still time to look before next planting season.

Melis

Melissande and Bettydee, I'm sending you D-mail in a couple of minutes!!
Alexandra

Bought a pack today, out of curiosity - they were on a spin rack, in Home Depot.

Sharon you found them at HD? Our Lowes usually carries them and I have not been able to find them. I looked at 3 different stores.

This is the best eating squash - the dish is called Calabacitas. Many variations, squash only or with meats. Holds it shape well, absorbs the flavors, sweeter, meaty, not like other squashes that fall apart. The squash is often referred to in the mexican food stores as Calabasa. Goofybulb's picture is the right one.

Makes the best soups and stews - best with pork, fresh or frozen corn, tomato, onions, spices (esp. cumin and oregano) and whatever else you want to put in it. Always a winner at my house, or when I bring a crock pot full to the boat dock.

Chuck

Look online in the Park Seed catalog. Go to Squash and there is a squash called Eastern Delight or Mexican squash which is also called Tatuma. Long ivory green colored squash. I think this might be it.
Becky

Beck3465,

The tatuma is not the right one. That is a white squash. The is this one you want from the Park Street catalog. The description about the wonderful flavor is right on.

Squash Magda Hybrid
Cucurbita pepo Magda Hybrid

http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/PD/5784/

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/92140/

Apparently it goes by many names other than Mexican squash or Calabassa/Calabacita. Another notable squash is Chayote that can be subbed for this squash.

Chuck

Chuck and Beck,

Even though the Mediterranean/Lebanese squash is a grey type, it is a distinct variety form the Mexican type. It is however, a quite good squash.

Goofybulb,

I agree with you there. They are very close cousins from the same family. This was the closest picture I could find in DG or Park St. The Tatuma variety reference was not close at all. The Mexican variety has a darker green veining on white to pale white. I'll try to pick some up tomorrow and post a good picture.

Chuck