I've always understood that Zucchini was simply the American word for Courgette ? I don't know what word you use for either Squash or Marrow ? I've also got a feeling that Americans use another term for Aubergines tho I could be wrong ? I'm sure people in the US grow some wonderful veg and know what they are talking about ( as per the posters from the US on here ) but the same applies to the UK and many other countries too. As already mentioned, this particular forum is not designed to be competitive - just helpful and informative.
Zucchini is Italian for courgettes ... the smaller fruit of Cucurbita pepo ... the same plant as the marrow.
There are different varieties of Cucurbita pepo, some strains have been bred by seedsmen to produce different colours or shapes of zucchini/courgette, while other strains have been developed to produce the shape of fruit desired by those who want to grow marrows; however both zucchini and courgette are essentially small marrows ... the fruit of Cucurbita pepo picked at an earlier stage.
They are all Cucurbita pepo ... a type of summer squash.
Yes, Zucchini has been pinched by the US - or at least by those in the US with whom I correspond.
There are so many different varieties of everything these days and with the chance of cross contamination, it's hardly surprising that people can get confused. Pity many breeders seem to have forgotten about flavour tho
I am not incorrect. You are confusing variety with species.
In your link, Bob Flowerdew (who lives near me and whom I have met at horticultural events on several occasions … we also occasionally bump into each other in the supermarket) said
“… Courgettes and marrows require the same growing conditions, but if you want to grow courgettes, don't simply buy marrow seeds and harvest them early. Likewise, if you want marrows, don't simply leave courgettes to mature on the plant. Different varieties have been specifically developed, so use appropriate seeds for best results...”
As I explained in my earlier post, this does not mean that they are not the same sort of plant … just that they are varieties that have been developed to have specific traits. Just as there are Early potatoes and Maincrop potatoes … they are all potatoes.
All Cucurbita pepo can be harvested small as courgettes/zucchini or left to grow on to become marrows. I, and many many other gardeners I know, have been doing it for 50 years and have won Horticultural Society prizes for both … as well as for our marrow chutney and marrow and ginger jam.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I don't know whether it's the same in other parts of France but Courgettes are the same as the English know them and Courges are squashes ie butternut and pumpkins, if you talk about courge you are not talking about courgettes.
@floralies ... are vegetable marrows popular in France? I've never seen them, but then I've rarely been in France in the marrow season
It just goes to show how unreliable the common names of plants can be ... understandably their usage varies from region to region and cuisine to cuisine. Using the binomial name makes matters much clearer.
Even the Pattypan Squash is Cucurbita pepo ... a summer squash ... and like all summer squash will cross-pollinate with other Cucurbita pepo ... eg zucchini ... not a problem when you're growing for the kitchen of course, but if you want to save seeds for the following season, you may get some unusual fruit as a result.
Butternut squash and other winter squash that are harvested when ripe and stored, are either Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata or C. mixta. They don't naturally hybridise with C. pepo.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Not in our region @Dovefromabove. It's certainly very confusing isn't it. A few years ago I had some courgette seeds growing in the GH and only had a short label so wrote courge on it, I knew that it was courgettes but neighbour asked what type of courge they were
Posts
Awa an bile yir heid.
I'm sure people in the US grow some wonderful veg and know what they are talking about ( as per the posters from the US on here ) but the same applies to the UK and many other countries too. As already mentioned, this particular forum is not designed to be competitive - just helpful and informative.
There are different varieties of Cucurbita pepo, some strains have been bred by seedsmen to produce different colours or shapes of zucchini/courgette, while other strains have been developed to produce the shape of fruit desired by those who want to grow marrows; however both zucchini and courgette are essentially small marrows ... the fruit of Cucurbita pepo picked at an earlier stage.
They are all Cucurbita pepo ... a type of summer squash.
https://www.allaboutgardening.com/zucchini-types/
https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Marrow
https://www.cannagardening.com/zucchini_grow_it_yourself
Americans call aubergines 'Eggplant'.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Yes, Zucchini has been pinched by the US - or at least by those in the US with whom I correspond.
There are so many different varieties of everything these days and with the chance of cross contamination, it's hardly surprising that people can get confused.
Pity many breeders seem to have forgotten about flavour tho
courgette are essentially small marrows ... the fruit of Cucurbita pepo picked at an earlier stage.
incorrect.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/apr/05/gardens28
“… Courgettes and marrows require the same growing conditions, but if you want to grow courgettes, don't simply buy marrow seeds and harvest them early. Likewise, if you want marrows, don't simply leave courgettes to mature on the plant. Different varieties have been specifically developed, so use appropriate seeds for best results...”
As I explained in my earlier post, this does not mean that they are not the same sort of plant … just that they are varieties that have been developed to have specific traits. Just as there are Early potatoes and Maincrop potatoes … they are all potatoes.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It just goes to show how unreliable the common names of plants can be ... understandably their usage varies from region to region and cuisine to cuisine. Using the binomial name makes matters much clearer.
Even the Pattypan Squash is Cucurbita pepo ... a summer squash ... and like all summer squash will cross-pollinate with other Cucurbita pepo ... eg zucchini ... not a problem when you're growing for the kitchen of course, but if you want to save seeds for the following season, you may get some unusual fruit as a result.
Butternut squash and other winter squash that are harvested when ripe and stored, are either Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata or C. mixta. They don't naturally hybridise with C. pepo.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
A few years ago I had some courgette seeds growing in the GH and only had a short label so wrote courge on it, I knew that it was courgettes but neighbour asked what type of courge they were