Only One Person Grows Cucuzza In Wyoming

What the heck is a CUCUZZA?

Kakutza, more commonly spelled "cucuzza," is a long, edible squash in the bottle gourd family. Does anyone grow cucuzza in Wyoming? There is one guy; that's all we know about. We have not found anyone in Wyoming growing these things in the Cowboy State.

Well, that one guy just grew a record-long one. It's almost as tall as he is. Have a look at the photo below.

Cucuzza is an edible gourd that's grown mostly in Sicily. The squash is eaten mostly stewed, but even the young vine ends and leaves can be sautéed and eaten as a green vegetable.

Cheyenne, Wyoming resident Tim Mandese is a graphic artist and photographer. He grew these in Florida as a kid and helped an uncle who grew them commercially.

Cucuzza and Tim Photo By Glenn Woods 2

Tim wrote the following on his Facebook page.

If you have made it this far with me, rejoice, for these are the last cucuzza photos of the year. . . maybe! LOL With snow in the forecast for Thursday, and the growth stalled, I made the decision to harvest "Big Betty"! The birth stats are 5ft 4in at 11.2Lbs.

The longest recorded Sicilian cucuzza squash (often categorized alongside record-long zucchinis) measured 102 inches (8 feet 6 inches), grown by neighbors John D'Amico and Ramesh Khurana in Thorold, Ontario, Canada.

If cucumbers grow well in Wyoming, why not cucuzza?

You can do a lot with this long - um - thingy.

You can cook a stew: simmer cubed cucuzza with potatoes, onions, garlic, and tomatoes in a broth, then mix in broken pasta like spaghetti or small shells.

.Cucuzza and Tim Photo By Glenn Woods 3

Tim plans to try and set a record with next year's garden.

He got a late start this year. In 2027, he plans to start by growing it inside, by the window, then transferring it to the garden when conditions are right.

BIG Cucuzza leaf photo by Tim Mandese

How about stuffed cucuzza? Fill hollowed pieces with a mixture of ground meat or Italian sausage, breadcrumbs, cheese, and herbs, then poach or bake in a rich tomato sauce

Maybe stewed in red gravy! Sauté the squash with onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic, then add tomato paste and stewed tomatoes to serve over pasta.

Try a squash casserole: Shred or cube the squash, mix it with eggs, cheese, and Italian seasonings, and bake until firm.

Below is a photo of Tim just before he cut it down for the season. Cold rain and frost caused him to call it quits for the year.

Cucuzza and Tim Photo By Glenn Woods 1

How To Grow Cucuzza In Wyoming

It can be done, but cucuzza is challenging to grow in Wyoming due to the state's short growing season. Wyoming's cool nights and unpredictable frosts don't help either. According to Savvy Gardening, cucuzza loves the heat and requires warm days and soil temperatures.