In the summer of 2007, when we went to Italy on vacation, I already knew that Italians grow some kind of unusual pumpkin - all wrinkled, with deep folds, knobby, as if covered with large green warts. Someone even told me that the Italians call this pumpkin the Sea Monster. We rested on an island not far from Naples, and indeed I managed to buy the seeds of this pumpkin, and bought in two places. The first time I bought the Sea Monster in Naples itself, the second time in the small Italian town of Forio, on the island where our hotel was located. Naturally, I bought seeds from a photograph on bags, which, as you yourself understand, cannot be confused with anything. "Zussa Marina di Chioggia" - this is how the name of this variety is spelled in the native Italian language.
According to our Russian mentality, I took seeds from two remote places, seeds from different companies and with a different pattern, because used to not trust trade, in the hope that, perhaps, in at least one package the seeds will be both viable and real. But the seeds, oddly enough, all sprouted and were planted by me, respectively, from different bags to different places. The pumpkins grew, the fruits set, and when they began to grow, I saw that the fruits were smooth, like a rubber ball. There was no doubt that the Italians had cheated. In our life we are accustomed to so many disappointments that one more or less disappointment is an insignificant difference for us. I had to give up trying to grow pumpkins with the wrinkles and squiggles that were in the photographs on the seed bags and grow such smooth green pumpkins. True, initially they were planted in isolation in order to obtain pure-bred seeds, therefore, in the future, they had to be manually pollinated.
However, after a while, the very first fruit began to become covered with wrinkles and bumps, and after a while its appearance was already fully consistent with the photographs on the seed bags. The same thing happened with the rest of the fruits. This was a pleasant surprise against the background of previous disappointments. So I managed to grow the Sea Monster in two beds at once.
Now about the pumpkin itself, the history of the variety and agricultural technology. Among the 900 different varieties of pumpkins that appear in the markets and shops in Italy in the summer, only about 10 have the honor to be in demand by culinary experts and chefs. Among them is Marina from Chioggia, which is now widespread in all regions of northern Italy. These fruits are round, flat, some in the shape of a large turban, with wrinkled bark ranging in color from gray to blue-green and green, with a thick, delicate, yellow-orange pulp of sweet taste, very suitable for Italians for culinary purposes. I'll try to talk less about boiled onions, carrots, various cabbages, and various boiled vegetables that Italians feed, but I won't say anything bad about pumpkin. This variety has no astringency, it can be eaten raw, just like an apple. Not to mention that, according to the Italian National Institute of Nutrition, 200 grams of pumpkin per day is enough to meet the daily needs of our body. Because of its low calorie content and high fiber content, which is easy to digest and digest, eating pumpkin can make up a weight loss diet, provided that seasonings are used in moderation. Believe me, Italians make perfect dishes from pumpkin. They cook it with rice, cheese, sausage, mushrooms and spinach, make creams, soups, a delicious dessert out of it, boiled, fried, or oven-cooked and sweetened or just make pies with it.
Marina from Chioggia is considered one of the most beautiful and unique pumpkins. Italians think that the sea gave them a pumpkin from Chioggia and consider this variety a heritage from the sea.Chioggio is a small town in northern Italy in the Veneto region near Venice, consisting of three islands connected by canals and bridges. The inhabitants of Kiogia have always been engaged in fishing, every day, despite the dangers, reclaiming food from the sea. Interestingly, the village of Sottomarina is located seven hundred meters from Chioggia, across the bay. In this village, people have long been engaged in plant growing and for many years they have grown this now famous pumpkin there. The bridge between Chioggia and Sottomarina was built only in the twenties of the last century. And only when the pumpkin began to be grown in Chioggia - only then did it get its current name. Now Marina from Chioggia was raised by me too, which means you can grow her too, because I will send the seeds. The Italians plant it in March, the fruits begin to take off in June. With us, when planted at the end of May, the fruits begin to reach technical ripeness at the end of August. Maximum specimens grow up to 10 kg. Plucked in time, they are well stored until spring. Plants are very vigorous, respond well to fertilized soil and regular watering. This pumpkin is also very decorative. Italians have a tradition of keeping a pumpkin in their home as a hope for happiness and abundance, which is associated with the large number of seeds - a symbol of fertility.
