Trellising and drying cucuzzi/cucuzza (Lagenaria siceraria var. longissima) gourd

Hello,
I'm making multiple posts today as I have been thinking/searching info about these questions for several years (!), but finally made an account only yesterday.

I am growing cucuzza gourd for the first time. Primarily, I want to be able to grow a summer squash that won't cross with my winter squashes (C. pepo, mixta, moschata, and maxima). This means that instead of zucchini, I can grow a winter pepo variety and save the seeds.

My main question is whether anyone had tried drying immature cucuzza same way you would a zucchini (as Carol Deppe suggests) to later rehydrate in soups and stews? My main concern is certain foods have some poisonous characteristics (such as reported GI distress from cooked but not raw pawpaws, undercooking beans, obviously bitter toxic squash that have crossed with an ornamental variety, etc..). I certainly plan to try a small amount first. I have eaten cucuzza in the form of "zoodles", peeled and cooked.

My second question (a little late in the game) is trellising. This year, I am not going to be able to get cattle panels for an arch trellis as planned. I can see how a gourd would be best trellised on an arch of some sort or a "squash tunnel". I have a very sturdy 8 ft teepee made out of 3/4 in aluminum conduit. I know it's not ideal, but could this design possibly support a gourd? Are there any other ideas that don't involve an arch?

Of note, I have read that Lagenaria siceraria is pollinated by moths and other night creatures, which is one reason I was really looking forward to growing it.

I have never tried to dry cuccuzzi, but I have done supersized yellow squash and zucchini, which are both more watery, so I  think you could do it to cuccuzzi too. I think it is safe to do so. I'll try to remember to try that this summer.

I think your conduit trellis would be fine. Here are a couple of trellises that I have used for cuccuzzi.





Oh, since it's just your first day of posting, WELCOME TO PERMIES! I'm glad you decided to join us.

Joylynn, thank you so much for your response, this is super helpful and encouraging. Good to know other people are growing this gourd (whether you call it cucuzzi, cucuzza, or - my favorite - The Serpent of Sicily). I cannot believe I waited this long to make an account here, haha.

Update on cucuzzi: it grew really well this year. I ended up opting out for a tpost trellis with a 10 foot long 1 inch EMT conduit on top with conduit extensions to make the tpost higher.  Made little hills on both ends. Cucuzzi took over the back of the garden corner. Vines are huge! I got quite a few fruit.

The squash tastes pretty much like zucchini when peeled. It smells slightly different, not necessarily pleasant, but once peeled and cooked it is BETTER than other summer squash, more firm. I don't like it raw, but otherwise it is superior to zucchini.

Meanwhile, our summer squash got killed by SVB. I think we are done with summer squash other than cucuzzi.

Update on drying it: dried in dehydrator successfully, about 6-8 hours on 135 F. Dried slices delicious as chips (although a little chewy) and also rehydrate wonderfully. No issues after eating them.

Final note: I didn't have to hand pollinate. Something did. It seems to bloom at night/early morning hours.