Zucca Tonda Padana
(Curcurbita moschata)
This strikingly beautiful heirloom pumpkin is from the Po River Valley (hence “Padana”) in northwestern Italy. The plants are robust growers with remarkable climbing skills. The leaves are light green with occasional white variations. Plants bloom profusely but sets only a few fruit.
The flesh of Tonda Padana is sweet and dry. In Italy it is used in a number of dishes including soups, pasta stuffing and as a principal feature when roasted and dressed with a hard cheese (from Po, of course).
Tonda Padana closely resembles some squashes from Guatemala. This isn’t surprising given that C. moschata arose from Central America. Tonda Padana does appear, however, to be more colorful than the Corban pumpkins. It has orange/tan ribs with mottled green spaces between the ribs. In a word it is a ‘showstopper.’
These Zucca Tonda Padana were organically grown in my garden in the Valley of the Moon.
Seed source:
C Lindquist
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