So, for all you Carosello fans out there, I just recently discovered the Network for the biodiversity of Horticulture in Puglia website, found at biodiversitapuglia.it.
This website is continually updating their findings concerning Italian agriculture and, as it turns out, carosello varieties. For those of us who speak English, it does require translation, but if you are looking for Carosello varieties to learn more about – this may be a resource for you!
One of their earliest posts was about the experience individuals have with seeing carosello cucumbers while visiting southern Italy.
There is a general Carosello page, then there are a few pages about specific Carosello, such as the Mandurian Round.
One page in particular talks about a Carosello Pilusedda, which looks a lot like a Carosello Polisello – perhaps very similar to my Polisello. Then there is another page about a Spuredda Leccese variety.
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| Carosello Pilusedda or Perhaps Polisello? |
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| Carosello Spuredda Leccese |
I am thrilled to see so much information coming out of the source of some of the fantastic Carosello varieties.
Whenever you want to find more out about Carosello cucumber varieties in Italy, you can always go to Puglia’s biodiversity website.
Dear Jay,
ReplyDeleteThe Carosello Pilusedda and the Carosello Polisello are the same identical variety. It's named "Pilusella" in the North of Puglia (the Foggia district) where it comes from. It means more or less "covered with fuzz". Pilusella was translated "Polisello" into Italian language, but Polisello doesn't mean anything. I suppose it's used just because it has a similar sound.
-Giuseppe-
Hey Giuseppe,
DeleteThank you so much for both the clarification and the education! Do the residents of the Foggia district speak a different language than Italian?
Now that I am growing out the lighter colored Colosello Polisello, should I just call it "Pilusella" instead of "Polisello"? If that is its correct name, I am happy to do that, to better avoid confusion. (=
Thanks again Giuseppe!
-Jay
Dear Jay,
ReplyDeleteIn Italy there are thousands of local languages. There are also places where people speak ancient French, Albanian, Greek. Anyway, the official language is Italian, of course.
As regards "Pilusella" or "Polisello", I'm afraid they are two identical ways to call this variety. The former is local language, the latter is Italian. So, but it's just my opinion, if you call Pilusella the lighter coloured variety, this could be confusing.
I'll send the link of this post to the administator of Puglia's Biodiversity website, Professor Pietro Santamaria. We write each other from time to time.
-Giuseppe-