Hi!
I ordered some seeds yesterday and this was a zucchini that I decided to try. The name gave me a chuckle. Well, okay. I cracked up.... Has anyone tried these?
Pam
https://growitalian.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=000155
This message was edited Jan 15, 2009 8:43 AM
'Serpent of Sicily'
It looks like the zucchini I saw on Rachel Ray yesterday. 6 feet long, so be careful!!
I've planted tromboncino (sp?) and it looks like they might be similar. I only got a couple of squashes, (not the plants fault, the conditions) and they were by FAR my favorites, I'll be interested to hear how they do, unless I happen to go to the site you so nicely (darn you*G*) provided..
Someone in the 'Tomatoe' forum recommended this website to me. So here goes the dominoes.... I had bought some tomatoe seeds by 'Franchi' and was wondering how they would do. So I asked there and they said that was a real good brand name. I wanted to try some eggplant by the same name that was similar to 'Ichiban', since that one grew well for me one year. So I ordered these https://growitalian.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=000046
Of course I ended up with 3 more seeds as well...HHHaaaa...Just like 'I bet you can't eat just one'
Serpent of Sicily is a gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria). Bottle gourd group.. Used in many parts of the world as a zucchini substitute. This type of gourd is very popular in Asian cuisine. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/73599/ It is no kin to the Trombocino, which is a butternut type squash ( Cucurbita moschata) or to zucchini ( Curcurbita pepo)
I think it will be a fun plant to watch grow and enjoy eating some. I love bluespiral's description in the Plant Files.
Cool!! Now I can justify buying it, bacause it's NOT a zucchini :) I will now go see if it's part of the loofan group, I hear they can ne eaten when small, as well.
Thanks!
No Cat, It is a bottle gourd not a loofah (Luffa cylindrica, smooth type or Luffa acutangula, ridged type) which use to be popular in the south as vine okra. Both types are also called sponge gourds or Chinese okra, This type is eaten small like okra. There are a lot of bottle gourds which are a popular food crop in Asia. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=bottle+gourd&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
Yeah, so I found out. That's a GOOD thing...now i can buy both....
Love the thouht of vine okra, that goes on my list, too.
Serpent of Sicily is a name they are using now for cucuzza or cuccuzzi. My great-grandfather brought seeds directly here from Sicily and we've grown 'em here over 100 years, but you can get them different places now - I guess we have heirloom cucuzzi. These are easy to grow like squash, but do better by a fence or will even go up some trees - if you've got a ladder. The skins are naturally repellant of insects & they will keep longer than zuchinni. To eat, pick up to 2' - good to skin & cube into spaghetti, which no one will no is there, but sauce will taste better. Smaller skinnier ones are WAY better to slice and fry than eggplant & do not need to be salted or acidulated first. They are high in vitamin C. They are sea green & to save seed, you simply let them get full size them stick 'em in the closet or garage 'till next year & they'll dry out - just pop the dry top off, pour the seeds out in your hand and plant.
Thanks Luziannagourmet! Great Info.