Zucchini Varieties for Beginners

Something Old, Something New

• Plants, including zucchini, are classified as heirloom or hybrid. Heirloom seeds originated from plants grown before World War II when organic gardening was the norm, according to Burpee Seed. Seeds from heirloom plants produce new plants identical to the parent. Starting in the ‘50s, breeders began experimenting with blending the characteristics of two or more plants to create a superior plant. The seeds from these plants, called hybrids, produce new plants with better flavors, larger blooms and fruits, more disease and pest resistance, and quicker harvest times. Zucchini plant names followed by “F1” indicate the crossing of two pure plant lines to create a superior plant. Hybrid seeds do not lend well to seed collection because the resulting plants are not identical to the parent.

The Green Standard

• “Aristocrat,” “Black Beauty,” “Cocozelle,” ”Caserta” and “Lynx F1” are just a few heirloom and hybrid green zucchini varieties on the market. They produce 6- to 9-inch fruits with medium to dark black-green solid and mottled skins. Hybrid varieties have improved harvest time, disease resistance and make it easier to pick fruits without damaging your digits.

Grey Matter

• Grey zucchini varieties offer shorter fruits, approximately 5 to 7 inches long. The pale green skin, which is solid or slightly mottled in color, has a silvery or grey appearance. “Grey Zucchini”, also known as Mexican zucchini, is an older, open-pollinated, heat-resistant variety. Newer hybrid cultivars like “Citlali F1” and “Greyzini Mass Cross” were bred for early maturity, improved disease resistance and easy picking.

In the Round

• Not your typical specimen, the round zucchini looks more like a decorative gourd than a vegetable. Round zucchini varieties mature early and often when harvested regularly . Round cultivars like “Roly Poly,” “One Ball,” “Eight Ball” and “Tondo di Piacenza,” ranging in color from dark green and mottled to nearly white, provide a sweeter, more intense flavor than standard zucchini cultivars.

Yellow Not Mellow

• Yellow zucchini, although easily mistaken for straight-neck yellow squash, maintain true zucchini flavor. Packaged in bright and golden yellow skin, cultivars like “Golden Zucchini,” “Gold Rush,” “Golden Arrow F1” and “Goldzini” produce 6- to 8-inch fruits with increased disease resistance and extended harvest times.

Easy Zucchini Peasy

• Zucchini of all shapes, sizes and colors is a fairly low-maintenance addition to any garden. Other than providing lots of space, consistent moisture and a healthy dose of mulch, there isn’t much work to do to grow enough zucchini for you, your family and even your neighbors.