Zucchini Astia F1 Seeds - Cucurbita pepo

Cucurbita pepo 'Astia' F1 is a variety of courgette that produces dark green fruits with thin skin and excellent flavour. This early and productive variety is resistant to diseases, especially powdery mildew which often harms this type of plant. Non-trailing and with a compact habit, it takes up little space and is suitable for small gardens. The long and regular fruits are perfect cooked (stir-fried, gratin, soup, stuffed, ratatouille) and raw, grated and mixed with other raw vegetables. Courgettes are easy to grow and will provide a bountiful harvest. For the first sowing, harvesting starts from mid-June and continues until the end of September. It can be grown under cover or in open ground. It appreciates warmth and should be exposed to full sun.

Orange, green, red, yellow, black, or even blue, smooth, ribbed, warty, with tender skin, etc. squashes and courgettes boast an astonishing variability of shapes, colours, sizes. They hybridise with remarkable ease, hence the huge number of varieties. 

In common language, winter squash refers to all kinds of pumpkins, potimarrons, pumpkins, etc. with tough skin and delicately sweet flesh. By summer squash or courgettes, we mean the different varieties that are harvested when the skin is still tender and young. These are consumed with the seeds.

They all originate from America and belong to the large Cucurbitaceae family. They were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. There are about ten species of squash, four of which are the most cultivated in our vegetable gardens. These are Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita moschata or winter squash, Cucurbita maxima and finally Cucurbita argyrosperma:

Cucurbita pepo: these are the most common in vegetable gardens, including certain pumpkins, courgettes, and pattypan squash, among others. including some pumpkins, courgettes, and pattypan squashes, etc. They are generally recognised by their rigid and serrated leaves and their angular peduncle with at least 5 ribs that do not widen at the point of attachment to the fruit.

Cucurbita moschata or winter squash: these plants have soft leaves. The peduncle is very ribbed and visibly widens at the point of attachment to the fruit. The leaves take the shape of a heart.

Cucurbita maxima: these are mainly pumpkins. Their peduncle is rounded and becomes somewhat spongy. As the name of the species suggests, it mainly concerns varieties with large fruits. The leaves have 5 lobes.

Cucurbita argyrosperma: they are very rarely found in our gardens. They have trilobed leaves and a very thick, robust, and non-ribbed peduncle.

Generally trailing, they cling to any support with their tendrils. Female flowers are distinguished from male flowers by their inferior ovary (under the flower), resembling an embryo of fruit. In many regions, male flowers are harvested after pollination to be eaten stuffed or in fritters. 

In the kitchen: there are many ways to consume courgettes:  sautéed, fried, in gratin, in soups, or stuffed. Courgettes are famous in Provençal ratatouille, Italian caponata, Maghrebian couscous or many emblematic Mediterranean dishes. Courgettes are low in calories, but rich in vitamins, especially provitamin A, vitamin B and minerals.

Harvesting: courgettes are fruits that need a lot of water to give their best. Courgettes are harvested young and fresh. They should be handled with care and remain free of any cuts or bruises.

Storage: courgettes can be stored for a few days at room temperature or in the bottom of a refrigerator. They can be cut into pieces and frozen.

Gardener's tip: courgettes are very susceptible to powdery mildew (a fungal disease that leaves a white fuzz on the leaves). Avoid watering the leaves or flowers. Plant them with Alliums such as chives, onions, or shallots, or with legumes such as beans or peas. To prevent the fruits from coming into direct contact with the ground and rotting from moisture, you can place a slate tile underneath them. Similarly, courgette particularly appreciate slightly moist soils. Mulch around the plants, especially during the height of summer.

Note: this variety is labelled F1 for "F1 hybrid" because it is a variety resulting from the crossbreeding of carefully selected parents to combine their qualities. This results in a variety that can be particularly tasty and/or early, while being resistant to certain diseases. Sometimes criticised or wrongly associated with GMOs, F1 hybrid seeds are appreciated both for their uniformity and their resistance. Unfortunately, their qualities do not pass on to the next generations. It will therefore not be possible to save the seeds for future sowing.