Out of His Gourd
Los Gatan John Brugo is agog at the height attained by his cucuzza squash plants--some 24 feet! Although the Italian gourd is known for fast growth and large, long fruits, Brugo's tops them all. The plants rapidly outgrew their first 'home,' a standard wire-mesh tomato cage. Brugo kept adding 5-foot sections of mesh until the plant reached its current height. Guy wires offer added support. Brugo says his secret is drip irrigation and steer manure 'tea,' which he makes by mixing manure and water and letting the solution 'steep' for a day or two. He grew his plants from seeds given to him by friends who march each year in the Los Gatos Children's Christmas and Holiday Parade as the Italian Gardeners' Cucuzza Squash Drill Team--a favorite among spectators. As if the cucuzzas weren't enough to drive him out of his gourd, green thumb Brugo also grows 35 tomato varieties, 45 pepper varieties and a proliferation of fruiting kiwi vines, not to mention various trees and plants.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
