Zucchini comes in a variety of shapes and colors. We give an overview of green, white and yellow zucchini varieties and present suitable varieties for growing in small spaces.
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo covar. giromontiina) come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. While in German-speaking countries only elongated varieties are usually offered, spherical, star- and club-shaped zucchini can also be found in Mediterranean countries. This variety of forms can also easily grow in our gardens. We give you an overview of the various aromatic and high-yielding zucchini varieties.
Zucchini varieties with a very special look
Zucchini doesn't always have to be elongated. In addition to round and club-shaped courgettes, the large variety of varieties sometimes also includes flat-topped, star-shaped fruits called patissons (Cucurbita pepo convar. patissonia). True giants, such as the strong-growing giant zucchini 'Marrow' weighing up to 50 kg, or spherical small zucchinis can also be found in the diverse group of these pumpkin plants (Cucurbitaceae). We present zucchini varieties with a special look.
Round courgettes
- 'One Ball F1': Yellow courgettes with small, spherical fruits (diameter <8 cm). Die Zucchini schmecken sehr aromatisch und eignen sich auf Grund der Form besonders gut zum Füllen.
- 'Tondo chiaro di Nizza': Traditional Italian zucchini variety with round, dark green fruits that are clearly speckled. Round courgettes are particularly suitable for filling and gratinating in the oven.
- 'Tondo di Toscana': Traditional variety from Northern Italy. The light green, spherical courgettes should be harvested as young as possible, then they are particularly tender and tasty.
Yellow Zucchinis
- 'Gold Rush': Golden-yellow, elongated fruits with a good aroma. The fruits should be harvested as young as possible, since the plant will start new flowers immediately. Not to be confused with the apple variety of the same name.
- ‘Lemon’: Yellow zucchini variety inattractive lemon shape. The handy fruits form from early summer into autumn. They are sun yellow in color with light orange stripes.
- 'Orelia F1': High-yielding, yellow zucchini variety with elongated fruits. It can be harvested as early as June and produces numerous courgettes well into late autumn.
- ‘Siesta F1’: Modern and visually striking variety. The yellow skin is interspersed with clear white stripes. The courgettes have a good flavor and high ornamental value.
- 'Soleil': High-yielding courgettes with elongated, yellow fruits. It has a good aroma and high resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphaceae).
- 'Sunburst F1': Zucchini with yellow skin and star shape. The fruits of the patisson variety should be harvested as small as possible (diameter <6 cm), da ‘Sunburst F1’ umgehend neue Blütenstände ansetzt. Die sehr ertragreiche Sorte wird auch als ‘Gelbe Patisson’ oder ‘Scallopini’ angeboten.
White courgettes
White courgettes are extremely rare and are used as patissons for decoration, among other things, due to their attractive star shape.
- ‘Bianco di Sicilia’: Early ripening, elongated, white courgettes with an aromatic taste. Very young fruits are light green, but later turn creamy white.
- 'Custard White': As a white-skinned and star-shaped patisson variety, the 'Custard White' zucchini is particularly popular in the Mediterranean region. If you harvest early enough (diameter <10 cm) sind die Früchte zart und können wie Zucchini zubereitet werden.
Striped Zucchinis
- 'Green Tiger F1': Vigorous variety with numerous, green-dark green striped fruits and firm flesh. The flowers of the zucchini 'Green Tiger F1' are also good for stuffing.
- ‘Lungo Fiorentino’: Striped and ribbed, elongated courgettes with a particularly aromatic taste. Popular variety from Italy.
- 'Patisson Jaune et Vert': Star-shaped, extremely fertile variety with a light green colour. It can be used young like zucchini and baked in the oven like a squash as a hard, ripe fruit with a light yellow color and dark green stripes.
- ‘Novodiamant F1’: Modern, high-yielding zucchini variety from Italy, probably a further development of the Diamant variety. It forms oblong, green to dark green fruits.
Which types of zucchini taste best?
- 'Alfresco F1': Light green courgettes with firm flesh and very good taste. A novelty from Italy, the large flowers of which are also ideal for processing.
- 'Diamond F1':Elongated, dark green fruits with a good taste. The powdery mildew-resistant, high-yielding zucchini 'Diamant F1' is early maturing and does not climb.
- ‘Dunja F1’: Dark green zucchini variety with elongated fruits. The plants, which are resistant to powdery mildew and viruses, do not climb. The zucchini 'Dunja F1' can be harvested continuously from June until autumn.
- ‘Ismalia F1’: Oblong, light green fruits with white spots. The 'Ismalia F1' zucchini bears numerous young fruits from July. It is resistant to various mosaic viruses, powdery mildew and ring spot.
- 'Nano Verde Di Milano': Italian variety from the area around Milan. The variety bears particularly small and delicate fruits with an elongated shape, dark green color and excellent taste.
- 'Partenon F1': Elongated, dark green fruits with a very good taste. The skin of the zucchini 'Partenon F1' is very shiny. The robust zucchini is a good starter variety.
The best old zucchini varieties
- ‘Coucourzelle di Tripolis’: Italian variety popular worldwide. 'Coucourzelle di Tripolis' courgettes are club-shaped and have a dark green skin with light green stripes.
- 'Nero di Milano': Traditional Italian variety with very elongated fruits. The skin of the 'Nero di Milano' courgettes is very dark green, almost green-black. The large flowers are ideal for use in the kitchen.
- ‘Striato d’Italia‘: Italian zucchini variety with elongated, dark-light green striped fruits. The large flowers are also easy to prepare and eat.
- 'Verde D'Italia': Traditional variety from Italy with long, green to dark green fruits. The zucchini variety is considered to be very productive and tasty.
- 'Zuboda': Elongated, apple-green, juicy fruits with a very good taste. The variety is particularly productive and has a refreshing, cucumber-like aroma.
Zucchini varieties for the pot
Trailing zucchini varieties, which can be cultivated in a large pot on the terrace or balcony, are particularly suitable for hobby gardeners with little space. For this purpose, the tendrils, which are up to two meters long, are tied to a grid. Small varieties are also suitable for growing zucchiniin the pot.
- 'Black Forest': One of the few climbing varieties that climbs very well. It forms numerous dark green fruits with a good aroma. The robust variety can be harvested for a long time, it is particularly suitable for hanging up (terrace, balcony or greenhouse).
- ‘Floridor F1’: Yellow variety with round to ovoid fruits. The plants do not climb and form numerous fruits from the end of June. The small courgettes 'Floridor F1' are ideal for growing in pots.
- ‘Patio Star F1’: Modern, aromatic zucchini variety with dark green, very thin and elongated fruits. 'Patiostar F1' grows very compactly and can therefore be cultivated on balconies and terraces without any problems.
- ‘Satelite F1’: A climbing, very productive zucchini variety with round, dark green fruits.
- ‘Shooting Star’: Yellow-skinned, high-yielding zucchini variety with elongated fruits and a good taste. It can be tied up, allowing for cultivation on the balcony or patio.
Once you have decided on one of the different types of zucchini, here are some tips for planting the zucchini. Even after planting, there are a few points to consider in order to get a good harvest. We give an overview of the most important measures for caring for zucchini.