Organic Faenza Ortolana Zucchini Seeds

Reproducible Organic Seeds – Ancient Italian Bushy Variety

The light green courgette of the Romagna tradition, tender and productive

Organic Faenza Ortolana Zucchini Seeds Kokopelli seeds

This heirloom Italian variety, native to the Emilian city of Faenza, represents a jewel of Romagna's horticultural biodiversity. The Ortolana courgette stands out for its compact, bushy growth, making it ideal even for small gardens, and for its abundant production of elongated, light green fruits with firm flesh and a delicate flavor. Harvested young at 20-30 cm in length and weighing between 200 and 300 grams, the fruits have a crisp texture and a thin skin that requires no peeling. This cultivar's early ripening allows for generous and prolonged harvests from May to October, guaranteeing fresh courgettes throughout the warm season. These reproducible organic seeds allow this traditional variety to be preserved year after year, a guardian of the authentic flavors of pre-industrial Italian horticulture.
 
 
 

The roots of this courgette are deep in the Emilia-Romagna tradition

The Ortolana di Faenza is an ancient variety native to Emilia-Romagna, a region long renowned for quality horticulture. Faenza, a city renowned for its artistic ceramics, also boasts a long tradition of horticultural cultivation, with local varieties selected over the centuries by farmers to adapt perfectly to the climate and soil of the Po Valley. Although originally from the Americas and introduced to Europe after the 16th century, the zucchini has become perfectly integrated into Italian cuisine and agriculture, becoming one of the iconic vegetables of Mediterranean cuisine. Local varieties like the Ortolana di Faenza represent the fruit of this long history of adaptation and farmer selection, a genetic and cultural heritage to be preserved for future generations.
 
 
 

Growing the Faenza Ortolana Zucchini

Technical Characteristics

• Botanical name: Cucurbita pepo
• Bearing: Compact bushy
• Plant height: 45-100 cm
• Precocity: Precocious
• Fruit length: 20-30 cm
• Fruit weight: 200-300 g
• Form: Elongated, cylindrical
• Color: Light Green
• Texture: Soda, crispy
• Sachet contents: 12 reproducible organic seeds

Semina

In protected seedbed (March-May): Sow in pots at a temperature between 18-20°C, 2-3 weeks before transplanting. Use rich, well-drained organic soil. Keep the substrate constantly moist until germination (5-7 days).

Directly in the open ground (April-June): Sow after the last frosts, when the soil has warmed up (minimum soil temperature: 15°C). Place 2-3 seeds per hole at a depth of 2-3 cm, spacing the holes 1 m apart in all directions.

Transplanting and Soil Preparation

Transplant the seedlings with their entire root ball after the last frost, when there is no longer any risk of a return of cold weather. Prepare planting holes two weeks in advance, enriched with well-rotted compost or manure (3-4 kg per hole). Planting distance: 1 meter between plants in all directions. Water thoroughly when transplanting.
 
 

Reinforcement

Not necessary for this bushy variety. Add soil to the base of the plant during the first few weeks to promote stability.
 
 

Supports

Not required. The bushy, compact growth habit makes this variety self-supporting. Plants grow wider than they do taller, reaching about 80-100 cm in diameter.
 
 

Exposure and Soil

Exposure: Full sun (minimum 6-8 hours per day). Tolerates partial shade but with reduced production.

Ideal soil: Rich in organic matter (humus), loose, tends to be heavy but well-drained. Optimal pH: 6-7. Avoid compacted soil and waterlogging.

Fertilization: Zucchini is a very demanding plant. Incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost or decomposed manure before planting. During growth, apply liquid organic fertilizer or plant extracts (nettle, comfrey) every 2-3 weeks.
 
 

Irrigation

Medium-high water requirements, consistent throughout the growing cycle. Water regularly and thoroughly at the base, avoiding wetting the leaves and flowers (risk of powdery mildew and rot). Use organic mulch to maintain constant humidity and limit weeds.
 
 

Collection

From May to October, stagger the growth. Harvest the young fruits when they reach 20-25 cm in length, before they become too large and develop hard seeds. Frequent harvesting (every 2-3 days) stimulates the production of new fruits. Use a sharp knife to separate the fruits, leaving a small section of the stalk.
 
 

Favorable Consociations

Great neighbors: climbing beans, closest, onions, nasturtiums (They keep aphids away). Avoid proximity to potatoes and other cucurbits.
 
 
 

In the Kitchen: Mediterranean Versatility

The Ortolana courgette from Faenza, with its firm flesh and delicate flavor, is a staple of Mediterranean summer cuisine. Rich in minerals, fiber, vitamins B9 and C, and antioxidants, it offers purifying, diuretic, laxative, and refreshing properties. Here's how to enjoy it:

• Sautéed courgettes: Cut into slices and sauté in a pan with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, mint or basil
• Pasta with zucchini: Classic seasoning with spaghetti, parmesan and black pepper
• Baked Stuffed Zucchini: Empty and fill with extra biodynamic ground, rice, tomato e grated pecorino
• White Parmigiana: Layered with béchamel sauce, mozzarella cheese and parmesan
• Zucchini fritters: Grate and mix with eggs, flour e pecorino cheese, then fried
• Raw carpaccio: Sliced ​​very thinly with Lemon;, oil, salt and flakes of parmesan
• Grilled: Cut into strips and grilled, seasoned with balsamic vinegar e Origan
• Preserves: In oil or vinegar for the winter
• Stuffed flowers: Zucchini flowers can be stuffed with ricotta cheese e anchovies, battered and fried

The Producer: Kokopelli seeds

Kokopelli is an international association committed to defending food biodiversity and promoting patent-free, reproducible organic seeds. For over twenty years, Kokopelli has protected and distributed thousands of heirloom varieties of vegetables, grains, flowers, and aromatic plants, protecting them from extinction and restoring seed sovereignty to farmers and horticulturalists. Each Kokopelli seed represents an act of cultural resistance and a bridge to the future of biodiversity.
 
 
 

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