Zucca Melon (Lagenaria siceraria) The Zucca Melon, actually a gourd native to Africa, became a staple cash crop of the central and southern Oknagan during the second world war when the importation of citrus peels were restricted. The Zucca Melon phenomenon took off where the giant melons were grown and substituted as a candied peel, often diced, dyed and flavoured for use in fruitcakes and jams. At harvest time, they were often described as tombstones lining the fields since they were stood upright for ease of loading. Historical sources suggest Zucca Melon seeds were originally smuggled into the Keremeos region of southern BC from either Italy or California. After WWII, Zucca Melons fields became more and more scarce until they were almost extinct by the 1980’s. Mr. Glenn Swenson of Sandwich, Illinois had continued to grow the melons in his gardens. He graciously shared seeds with Sharon Rempel, head gardener of the Grist Mill in Keremeos BC and the melons were back in a few seed catalogues by the late 1990’s. Zucca Melons weight averages between 50 to 100+ pounds and are a 2-4’ oblong, light green fruit resembling a small Hippopotamus. Large white flowers resembling candelabra appear in the evening and remain open overnight. Plants have a very unusual odour and tend to keep rodents and small mammals with an appetite for veggies far away. We now grow one plant in several of our fields and hoop housing since this observation. Worthy of a try, why not grow the world’s largest gourd.
120-125 days to maturity
10 seeds per packet $4.45
Growing Instructions: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Sow 1” deep in 2-3” pots and keep moist and in a warm area of at least 20 C. Germination can take anywhere between 1 - 5 weeks. Transplant in a very warm sunny location with good fertility. Plants will require consistent irrigation.
