Zucchinis are not only healthy, they also have a decorative aspect due to their sometimes unusual shapes. In addition to the classic green, elongated pumpkin plant, other zucchini varieties inspire with their variety of taste and processing. But be careful, because not every type of zucchini is edible. Which ones are and which ones are also suitable for the balcony / bucket extension can be found out below.
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Choose the type of zucchini intelligently
The variety of zucchinis often makes the selection difficult. There are several factors to consider.
Space available
As a rule, all varieties are lush specimens that take up 1.5 to two square meters of space. If there is only little space available, for example on a small balcony, space-saving cultivars such as tendrils should be used.
Lighting conditions
Plants all need light to thrive. Some types of zucchini do well in shady places, while others only produce fruit in full sun. When making your selection, you should pay attention to the lighting conditions and accordingly choose the right zucchini variety.
“Bad-weather” zucchinis
The growth of the Cucurbita pepo is heavily dependent on the prevailing weather conditions. If the temperature is too low, the harvest will be a long time coming. If the summer is very rainy, there is a higher risk of illness. The new so-called parthenocarpic varieties can help here. They are considered to be the most resistant specimens to typical plant diseases such as powdery mildew and viruses, as well as to the cold. These varieties can go outside earlier under a fleece and accordingly bring the first harvest earlier.
Parthenocarpic varieties are purely female flowering cucurbits that do not require fertilization and are characterized by a particularly high-yielding harvest. Male specimens tend to have sticky flowers when it rains a lot. This makes pollination more difficult and the harvest yield can decrease significantly.
Colours
- Light and dark green zucchini varieties usually comprise the largest group and are predominantly available in Germany. They are mostly climbing, fast-growing varieties that are ideal for growing in small spaces, such as in a tub on the balcony.
- The differences between the yellow zucchini varieties are in the taste and variety of shapes. They have the most intense taste of all conspecifics and are available in numerous forms.
- The white zucchini is mainly used for decoration. It shows a star shape. The white zucchini is mainly used for decoration and is very popular due to its star shape. Those that are edible differ from the others mainly in their tender flesh.
Edible green zucchini varieties and their differences
Ambassador (F1)
The Ambassador (F1) is one of the parthenocarpic zucchini varieties. The differences to the old varieties lie in their early ripeness and the pathogen resistance to powdery mildew. A waxy coating surrounds the smooth-skinned, dark green fruits.
Diamond (F1)
Early fruit set and resistance to powdery mildew show up as differences to old zucchini varieties. Their taste is fine and the fruits of the Diamant (F1) captivate with a delicate sheen of the medium-green fruit color.
Defender
The Defender variety belongs to the early maturers among the pumpkin family (Curcubitaceae). This variety of zucchini is characterized by high yields and a long harvest time, which extends into autumn. It is also very robust against the cucumber mosaic virus.
Painting style (F1)
The new painting style F1 hybrid variety shows itself with high harvest yields and medium-green fruits. Powdery mildew cannot harm her and she reacts to the cucumber mosaic virus with a high level of resistance. It differs from many other varieties mainly with a slightly sweet taste and a relatively firm pulp.
Partenon (F1)
If you decide to grow Partenon (F1), you choose a parthenocarpic variety that survives outdoors early in the year under a fleece and is very robust against typical pathogens. The early variety produces large, dark green, cylindrical fruits.
Edible yellow zucchini varieties and their differences
Golden Rush (F1)
The cylindrically shaped, slightly shiny fruits of the Golden Rush (F1) are golden yellow. This hybrid variety has a delicious aroma the smaller the fruits are harvested.
Lemon
This Cucurbita pepo owes its name “Lemon” to its resemblance to lemons. The fruits form spherical between the early summer months and late autumn. A fine aroma accompanies this variety.
Sebring (F1)
The Sebring F1 hybrid variety can be quickly distinguished from other specimens by its smooth and shiny skin and the cylindrical fruits. It is a new, parthenocarpic zucchini variety that is highly robust against powdery mildew.
Soleil (F1)
opposite powdery mildew shows the new Soleol (F1) as a parthenocarpic variety. The main differences to other yellow specimens are the bright yellow fruit color and a finer, slightly fruity taste.
Edible white and light green zucchini varieties and their differences
Alfresco (F1)
The Alfesco (F1) Zucchini is a new breed from Italy, which also grows wonderfully in local areas. It forms light green fruits with firm flesh and an intense taste.
Cavili (F1)
Compact growth allows this Cucurbita pepo to be grown on a small balcony or in a tub. It is characterized by a good taste, high yield and a high level of robustness against numerous pathogens.Ismalia (F1)
The Ismalia (F1) fruit has a sweetish, mild taste. The edible zucchini variety is the only one that is resistant to numerous pathogens such as mosaic disease, powdery mildew and ring spot disease. The fruits have a delicate cream-green color.
Long White Bush
With a light pastel green and white spots, the Long White Bush attracts attention. The zucchinis are shaped like a club. They are edible raw as well as cooked, where they take on a creamy consistency and are therefore perfect for sauces. One of the biggest differences is their shelf life, which can be up to five weeks in the refrigerator, while other varieties can often not be used for more than ten days.
Patisson Blanc
They look like little UFOs, the creamy-white fruits of the older “Patisson Blanc” variety. In terms of taste, it has a nutty aroma. Due to its firmness, it can be optimally filled with all kinds of goodies.
Multi-colored zucchini varieties
Coucour cell
The coucour cell is edible and can be used as a decoration at the same time. It has a striped pattern in the colors cream-white and green. The fruits are shaped like a cylinder. From July until the first frosts it produces fruit. It is particularly characterized by its relatively high resistance, which allows it to grow even in cold, wet weather.
Green Tiger (F1)
Edible is the Green Tiger (F1), which sets a visual accent in every garden with its bright green and dark, lush green stripes. Their fruits are called excellent tasting and make them stand out, especially in salads. Like all new parthenocarpic varieties, the early variety is very robust against pathogens.
Patisson Strie Melange
Edible is the Patisson Strie Melange, which is reminiscent of a discus and has a slightly sweet artichoke-like taste. However, this goes away the larger the fruit becomes, which leads to a woody aroma and even tastelessness. You can recognize it mainly by its warty skin, which is very soft in the early stage of harvest.
Shenot Crown of Thorns
Round zucchinis with a crown-like structure are available in creamy white, but also in orange or yellow tones. In some cases they have colored stripes and / or are two-colored. If the Shenot Crown of Thorns is about seven centimeters tall, it has a particularly delicate taste. It grows as a tendril and is also ideal for cultivation on balconies.
Striato D’Italia
The cylindrical fruits of the edible Striato D’Italia zucchini have a mild taste and green-speckled, white peels.
Zephyr (F1)
Rare, but edible, is the Zephyr (F1). It is one of the rarities among the zucchini varieties. You can recognize it by a lime green in the lower zucchini area, which then changes to a bright, delicate yellow at the top.
Zucchini varieties with attractive shapes
Eight Ball (F1)
The hybrid “Eight Ball (F1)” is a very robust pumpkin plant that tastes best when the dark green, spherical fruits have reached the size of a tennis ball, because they are then very aromatic and tender Taste. The plant grows bushy.
Marrow
Among the zucchini varieties, the marrow is considered the largest and has already set many records. The yellow-orange, round to oval fruits often weigh more than 60 kilograms. The plant therefore needs a lot of space. The fruits are edible in the early stages of their ripeness, where they have a delicate, fine and slightly sweet aroma. The giant fruits are also edible by cutting them into small pieces. However, their taste diminishes with increasing size.
One Ball (F1)
The new zucchini variety “One Ball F1” impresses with its early ripeness and resistance to many pathogens. Orange-colored, round fruits have an aromatic taste when they are about seven centimeters tall.
Tondo Chiara Di Nizza
This table pumpkin shows itself with spherical, light green fruits, which have reached the perfection of their taste when they are harvested about the size of an apple or orange. They can be eaten raw as well as in salads, steamed or cooked as a side dish.
Yellow Crookneck
The high-yielding Yellow Crookneck Zucchini stands out in various shades of yellow. It owes its name to its curved shape, which, leading to the end of the fruit, is reminiscent of a gooseneck. The fruits are especially edible at a young age, because then they have a delicious aroma. If they are harvested in the advanced ripening process, they can still be cooked, but then serve primarily as decoration.
Zucchini varieties for cultivation
Black Forest (F1)
The Black Forest (F1) zucchini is very unsusceptible to pathogens. The plant grows as a tendril and in this way can thrive on every balcony in a space-saving manner. It forms dark green fruits by autumn.
Floridor (F1)
The young yellow fruits of the Floridor (F1) have a strong aroma, especially as young fruits. The round mini zucchinis form until early autumn on a bushy structure that reaches a maximum height of 40 centimeters.
Leila (F1)
The compact bush of the Leila (F1) variety grows to a maximum of 80 centimeters. It bears small, dark green fruits that have an aromatic taste. This type of zucchini is also available as an organic product in well-stocked supermarkets.
Nano Verde Di Milano
The small, delicate, cylindrical fruits in dark green of the Nano Verde Di Milano convince with a delicate, exotic taste. This new early / medium-ripening variety comes from Italy and can also find a place on balconies with a tendril aid. The plant grows bushy and expansive outdoors.
Patio Star (F1) The Patio Star (F1) is
compact in its dimensions and has a tasty aroma. It is ideally suited as a small, non-climbing bush for cultivation in a tub. The dark green fruits grow very thin and elongated.
Piccolo (F1)
As a small-growing bush, the “Piccolo (F1)” variety takes up little space on the balcony. With regular harvest, the egg-shaped, green and white striped fruits grow back quickly until autumn.
Sunburst (F1)
A slightly sweet taste is to be expected from the high-yielding zucchini variety “Sunburst (F1)”. The yellow fruits are star-shaped and around six centimeters in diameter. The climbing plant reaches a maximum height of 60 centimeters and is therefore also suitable for cultivation in a tub.
Conclusion
There are different types of zucchini to choose from for every taste and need. Whether for the balcony, growing in a tub or in the vegetable patch, the range of edible courgette plants leaves nothing to be desired. However, it should always be taken into account that bitter-tasting zucchinis is a sign of contained cucurbitacins, which in the worst case can cause life-threatening symptoms of poisoning.
