Zucchini, << zoo KEE nee, >> is a type of squash that resembles a cucumber. Zucchini are cylindrical, and most have shiny green skin, though some varieties are golden-colored. Their flesh is greenish-white. People eat zucchini raw in salads, including the skin. Zucchini also are eaten cooked and are used in making a kind of bread. Zucchini are low in calories, but they are a good source of calcium, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, and vitamin C . The term zucchini means little squashes in Italian. It was first used in California for a type of Italian or Spanish squash.
Zucchini are popular garden vegetables and grow well in any climate that has at least two months of warm weather. Zucchini are planted from seeds after all danger of frost has passed for the season. The vegetables grow on a bush that has a short stem and large leaves. Zucchini are picked when they are 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) long and their rind is still tender.
