Zucca lunga serpente di Sicilia (Italy)

AKA "Serpente De Sicilia Cucuzzi", "Zucchetta Serpente di Sicilia", "zucchetta", "Serpent of Sicily", "cucuzza", "cucuzze", or "gagootza". Lagenaria siceraria 'Longissima'. This is an Italian edible gourd, popular in Italy. Long, slender fruit is a brilliant, light green color; very tender and delicious with a rich flavor. The Italians eat these steamed, sautéed, or stuffed and baked. Preferred by many to zucchini, and I can vouch that it is delicious (I was skeptical about eating young gourds, to be honest, but they are soooo tasty). This ancient vegetable was popular in Italy, long before squash was brought here from the Americas. These are not bothered by many pests, and tend to be very easy to grow. The fruit are picked and eaten young at about 12" long. Rampant, 25' vines benefit from trellising. The growing tips of the vines can be harvested, sautéed in olive oil and eaten too. They are very tasty that way. Will cross with other hard-shelled Lageneria gourds like Birdhouse and Apache Dipper. 75 days. I was surprised at how tender and tasty these are. Try them!