Zucchini is without a doubt a great ally in the kitchen: It can be served as a starter, main dish, side dish, and even eaten raw or cooked…
It is one of the essentials in our shopping, but we know little about it. That is why, from Campos del Abuelo and through this article, we are going to explore the origin of the zucchini, what the plant that produces this fruit is like, the parts that compose it and its pollination … We will also learn how it is used in the kitchens of totally different cultures.
To introduce ourselves to the world of its cultivation, we will go to Clara's farm, a fellow farmer. Along with Lola, her mother, she grows, in addition to zucchini, lettuce, carrots, leeks, beans and all using organic farming techniques.
So let's start this journey, there is a lot to say about zucchini, our noble culinary companion…
Origin of zucchini
The origin of the zucchini is not entirely clear… But here we will present some of the known theories .
To begin with, its name appears among the vegetables consumed by the Egyptians and it is also associated with the Romans. Other sources say that it was already found in Asia. However, there are investigations that claim to have found remains in caves in Mexico, in the Valley of Oaxaca , dating from 8750 BC to 700 AD.
According to this same research, published in a journal specializing in botany, zucchini crops arrived in Europe from America after 1492, and then spread to the rest of the world. But here it gets complicated because other studies claim that it was the Arabs who introduced it to the Mediterranean…
There are not many certainties about the latter, but the truth is that the Zucchini, Calabacita, Zucchini or Zapallito, is one of the oldest species domesticated by humans.
Although we count it among vegetables, botanically speaking, it is considered a fruit and not a vegetable . This is because - as we will see later - it grows from the flower of the plant and has seeds inside.
It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family . Within this group we also find melon, watermelon, cucumber and pumpkin. A curious thing is that it is harvested before it has reached its point of ripeness.
As you can see, the zucchini in the photo is a bright dark green . But you can also find them in yellow, lighter green and even round shapes.
Even though zucchini is related to cucumber, melon and pumpkin, it can be said that it is part of the family . Not only because at Campos del Abuelo we are present during its growth cycle, but because it is a must-have in the refrigerators and pantries of almost everyone .
Zucchini is grown in countries such as India, China, Egypt, Iran, Mexico, Argentina, Turkey, Italy and, of course, Spain. In our country, production is led by Almería, followed by the Region of Murcia and the Valencian Community.
If we think about it, it is present in kitchens of countries with totally different cultures.
Without a doubt, here and everywhere, zucchini is one of the most versatile vegetables and is even one of the first to be given to a baby. Its fresh and slightly sweet flavor goes with everything and it can be eaten raw or cooked.
Now that we know its origin and the family to which it belongs, let's learn about the plant from which this must-have vegetable grows .
What does a zucchini plant look like?
The zucchini plant is considered a creeping plant , meaning its stems run along the surface of the soil. It is also compact and grows annually. It can reach a maximum height of one and a half metres. In this image you can see a zucchini plant in an advanced stage of growth.
Its leaves are palmate , divided into several lobes and arranged like the palm of a hand. If you have the chance to be in a garden and touch one of them, you will see that they are smooth on top, but rough on the bottom . Their edges are serrated.
What do zucchini flowers look like?
As for the zucchini flowers, they are pentamerous , that is, they have five parts. Their color ranges from bright yellow to orange . They grow right in the angle between the leaves and the stem, which is why they are also considered axillary. In the image you can see more clearly why they are axillary and the five parts that make them up to be pentamerous.
Let’s continue, let’s learn how pollination of the noblest of vegetables works…
Pollination of zucchini
Zucchini flowers, in addition to being pentamerous and axillary, are unisexual. This means that it produces male flowers and female flowers . These, in turn, need to be pollinated to produce fruit. In this image we capture a pollinator in full action, take a look:
We can tell one from the other because male flowers have stamens (like little antennae), which are their reproductive organs and where pollen is produced. Female flowers , on the other hand, have a pistil with three stigmas and an ovary inside. It can be difficult to tell them apart if you are not an expert, so we'll give you a simpler way.
When differentiating them, you have to take into account the stem of each one. In the case of the male flower, the stem is thinner , it is the normal stem of a flower. The female flower of the zucchini has a thicker and somewhat swollen stem , that is because what it has there is a potential zucchini.
To understand this better, we go to Lola and Clara's field. Clara accompanies us through their fields , where they have different plants growing. You can see leaves, textures, sizes and colours, and some bees and ladybugs fly by. It makes you want to go and see what other plants are growing, but what we are attracted to today is the courgette , and we are heading towards its plant.
Clara crouches down next to the zucchini plant. She looks at the flowers, first picking one, then another. Both are yellow, but she has a very simple way of identifying which is male and which is female : There are two types of flower, the male ones with a long, thin stem, and the female ones with a thick, short stem that will give rise to the zucchini.
Pollination occurs when pollen from the male flower reaches the female . This generally happens through our great friends, the bees. But it can also be done manually.
But to talk about this, what better than to listen to Clara. Look how clearly she explains the process in this video:
As she tells us, when the male and female flowers open on the same day , pollination is achieved. The pollen from the male flower reaches the female flower and thus the fruit, that is, the zucchini, sets correctly and begins to develop.
What does zucchini look like?
Once the ovary of the female flower has been pollinated, the fruit will begin to grow. Zucchini, known by its scientific name as Cucurbita pepo variety cylindrica , likes warm temperatures . That is why it develops very well during the summer months.
Regarding temperature, Clara warns that zucchini like heat . But she also tells us that we have to be careful because when it is not enough or when , on the other hand, it is excessive, the fruits do not set well.
A zucchini can grow to be 20 to 30 cm long and weigh around 200 or 300 gr. As we said before, there are other varieties, the one Lola and Clara are growing on this occasion has that characteristic dark green colour with small yellow or white specks .
You don't need to peel it to eat it, in fact if you cook it in a wok, for example, the skin allows the zucchini to retain water. Inside it is pale white, with soft, edible seeds . Its flesh is firm, but also tender due to its high water content.
To keep it well, we recommend that you leave it in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator but without washing it first. It lasts longer when dry . You can also wash it, cut it and freeze it . Another possibility is to make some kind of pickle to preserve it for a long time.
In this image you can see a beautiful zucchini harvested by our colleague Clara and ready to eat.
Growing Zucchini
Zucchini grow very quickly and , as we said, likes heat . In fact, at temperatures below 8º the plant stops growing. The soil in which it is to be grown needs to be well prepared with plenty of organic matter.
It is because of this fondness for warm temperatures that, as Clara explains: Zucchini is grown at the end of spring, during the summer and - depending on the weather - in some years also in part of autumn.
We continue talking with Clara next to the courgette plants. She continues to tell us about the process: Sowing takes place from March to August, first in a tray. Then it is transplanted with a root ball into the ground and in two months it begins to be harvested if the conditions are favourable. If the setting goes well, these are really productive plants.
Even though we at Campos del Abuelo dedicate ourselves to the land and it is our job, we never cease to appreciate the incredible moment that is sowing. That our daily food comes from something as small as a seed is still a generous gift from nature…
But let's continue, we are with the zucchini.
The development of the courgette is fast, so from the third month onwards we can start harvesting. Then, the harvest will be staggered as long as the plant continues to produce courgettes. Watering, says Clara, is moderate. It does not need too much water but it should not be allowed to dry out either.
Zucchini, the flower and its wide culinary world
Initially, at least in Europe, it is said that zucchini was used to feed livestock . Later, it was introduced into kitchens, where it began to occupy a very important place.
In Italian cuisine, zucchini flowers are considered a delicacy. They are served stuffed, fried or stewed. In Mexico, the flowers are also used in cooking. In our country, it is not very popular, but it is a good idea to keep in mind.
They are sold almost exclusively in gourmet shops , as they are very fragile and require some care to preserve them. They do not last more than two or three days off the plant, they must be refrigerated and avoid crushing them.
In Italy, where they are popularly consumed, these flowers are usually filled with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella cheese, herbs and nuts. They are then coated in batter and fried or baked. Sounds good, doesn't it?
As we said at the beginning, one of the words that most surrounds zucchini is versatile . It can be used to make a wide variety of dishes, some traditional and others adapted.
Here in Spain, one of the traditional recipes that we find with zucchini as a fundamental ingredient is pisto manchego . This dish has its origins in La Mancha, where day laborers used the vegetables from the garden for their lunches. Among these accessible vegetables, the noble zucchini comes in. In this case, accompanied by onion, tomato and pepper fried in olive oil.
Leaving aside traditional dishes, one of the adapted recipes is the Spanish omelette with zucchini instead of potatoes.
In France, the famous Ratatouille originated from the need to use garden vegetables so that they would not spoil. One similarity it shares with the pisto manchego is that zucchini, of course, was among those garden vegetables.
In other parts of the world, such as Latin America, it is also popular . In Mexico, there are traditional Mexican-style zucchini, and in Argentina, it is a must for making pies and tortillas. In oriental cuisine , it is sautéed in a wok and soy sauce is added. This use has already become popular in various places.
Curcubita pepo is also a great ally for vegetarian or vegan diets. It can be eaten raw, cooked, steamed, sautéed in oil, baked, stuffed, sliced, and can be combined with almost any ingredient. In addition, it has many benefits for our body. Do we know them?
Benefits of eating zucchini
Zucchini is not only a spectacular ingredient for cooking, but it also provides multiple benefits if you consume it daily.
Contains vitamin C (if eaten raw or lightly steamed), vitamins B1, B2 and B6 .
It provides a variety of minerals such as: potassium, magnesium, sodium, iodine, iron, calcium and phosphorus.
Another notable point about this food is that it contains a lot of water, is low in calories and contains fiber.
Well, for now we have reached the end of the zucchini story. Without a doubt, this fruit has managed to enter kitchens around the world to become part of the family.
The tour of Lola and Clara's farm has also come to an end... Straight from the field, we have learned what the zucchini plant is like, its flowers and its cycle . In addition, we discovered the secret of its incredible flavour: they are grown using sustainable and natural methods.
Remember that at Campos del Abuelo you can buy seasonal fruits and vegetables through our online store. Our products are grown using organic methods and travel from the tree or plant directly to your home.
Plus, you can rest assured that we don't apply any post-harvest chemicals to them. Oh, and they arrive at your home in less than 24 hours.
Until next time and thanks for reading!
