The Cucuzzi Calamity

Are very young pumpkins edible?? I have read several hits on the Internet on the subject, and have not found anyone writing about eating the young fruit. Does anyone out there know?? They look so tender and succulent.


I know there are gourds that can be eaten when they are small. An example is cucuzzi, the edible gourd. If they get too old they have to be used as gourds, but I have read that the small ones may be prepared the same way we prepare zucchini squash. Aren't they all pretty much the same family: squashes, pumpkins, gourds? Everything I know about them I learned from Pomona and her blog, Tulips in the Woods.

And, now, it is time to confess my calamity. Pomona gave me some seeds last summer. I knew I didn't have enough growing season left before frost, so I saved the seeds until this spring. They and many other seeds and cuttings were worked up in my potting/planting frenzy. I even made notes about what was in which pots. Labels would have been better, but I had forgotten to buy any.

The time to travel to another state to attend the celebration of high school graduation for one of our grandsons came rapidly. I so prized those cucuzzi seeds that I decided to take them with me so I could give them close attention and care (not too dry, not too wet). I consulted my notes: 6-cell, brown, white handle, in plastic bag cover (to maintain humidity).

I traveled with that cell pack between my feet and attended to it more than once a day. Nothing was happening. We traveled back home. Same story. Home again I noticed little sprouts emerging. I watched and waited. Then realized they were 4 o'clocks! I had carried the wrong one!

I looked around. Where were the cucuzzis?! There behind me on the bottom shelf, out of the sun, was a brown plastic 6-cell pack with white handle and in a plastic bag cover. My spirits slumped.

This is the way I felt.

I pulled it out and saw that they had sprouted and tried to grow inside the wretched plastic bag -- and were now dead! All my conscientious time and trouble were for naught! What a blow!! I will quit mentally whipping me eventually.

The scene of the crime, 2009.

In the photo above, down past midway of left side there is a narrow strip of white. Just above it are the few shelves below a small, old, black computer desk - a yard sale find. That's where I found the cucuzzi carefully tucked in among some cuttings in bright light out of the sun.

Easier to see in this older photo below.

The messiest work area in the world!

Husband/Best Friend/Chief Photographer calls it my play area/potting shed, and my toys. It is really the large doorway into the garage, and the cars have to sit out on the driveway. No fun when there is ice and snow. I frequently feel sorry for him, being married to me.

A working garden causes our driveway to always be in a state of messiness, years and years of tarp covered compost, sand, and other piles. Even I get tired of it.

I REALLY do need a barn!

You would never believe it, but this is organized clutter. There is a rhyme and reason to the arrangement.

There is even a clear path! (Barely) It's a wonder I am still married! That is the Garden Door, and the steps up to the kitchen door.In spite of the clutter and disarray, I have sold a few plants on our local Craig's List.

Here is a nice starter pack of Gold Moss (Sedum acre).

But, there are only so many buyers for Gold Moss. It has been here a while. It has already bloomed and has gone seedy. I have read that each tiny leaf will sprout and make a new plant. There is enough here to make a very good spread.

You can see that I do tend to spread out everywhere.
Such as the backdoor steps.

And, in spite of the chaos, I have to admit: It is more fun every year.

And, now, what was the original subject and question?... Oh, yes. Are very young pumpkins eatable?