Squash is a warm season crop, so avoid planting too early; raised beds and plastic mulch help keep roots warm Tromboncino grows huge zucchini-like fruit, sometimes up to a metre or more in length, that can either be eaten young and tender or cured and stored like a winter squash. The fruit’s pale green skin is sometimes marked with subtle white stripes when young. Like a butternut pumpkin, the fruit has a swollen end where the seeds form, meaning much of the flesh is seed-free. Take a squash seed between finger and thumb and push it, pointed end first, an inch or two into the compost/soil mound. Your fingers will leave a dent in the soil; this is great since it will catch and hold moisture when it rains. Plant three seeds per mound to make sure of getting at least one healthy plant.

For some peoplethe flavour is just too bland. The flesh also has a higher water content than most pumpkins, making it great for fritters, steaming or mashing but too softfor roasting. You can also sow your seeds directly outdoors once temperatures rise at the end of May. Make sure you space them 60cm apart, sowing two seeds per hole. Simply pinch out the weaker seedling after a few weeks, keeping the strongest plants to grow on. Sowing to harvest takes roughly eight to ten weeks. Support nedded with this variety. You can grow it amongst your runner beans, or up un fences, trellises. Sowing Outdoors: Sow after the last frost when the soil temperature is over 70 º F. Sow a few seeds every 36-48". Squash bugs and squash vine borers? They don’t seem to affect tromboncino, maybe because it puts out so many arms, or because any vine nodes that touch soil are liable to set down extra roots.Mix the squash, tomatoes, onion and mint in a bowl. Add the eggs and stir the mixture until all the ingredients have combined.2. Add enough flour to bind the mixture together (add more flour if the mixture is still runny). Season to taste. Heat 1/2 cm of sunflower oil in a shallow frying pan until fairly hot. Spoon dollops of the mixture into the oil and turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden. Drain on some kitchen roll or crumpled newspaper and serve hot. Pasta: In Italy, this squash is often stuffed in ravioli. You can make your own Italian version with sautéed squash, brown butter, and sage, and serve it with gnocchi. Fortunately, we’ve found a few varieties that, for us, really fit the bill, and one of our absolutely most favorites is tromboncino (also known as ‘vining zucchini’ or ‘zucchetta rampicante’). We grow hundreds or even thousands of pounds every year, and it is one of the reasons our farm buys almost no feed. Delicious, abundant, and versatile, it’s just a terrific crop. Side dish: Cube the squash and sauté it with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. This simple side dish makes a great addition to summer tables. You can also sprinkle goat cheese on top to make it fancier. Courgette Tromboncino Albenga is a climbing squash unlike most courgettes that are trailing. It produces tendrils that need to wind up and around a strong support system like a pergola or wigwam and a helping hand tying in the vines & courgettes will help support the very heavy and numerous fruits.

The outer skin will harden up and they can be then stored in a cool dry place into winter like a winter squash. The courgettes are used in recipes just like normal courgettes when small & young or like squashes when hardened off for winter. With feed costs rising and store shelves going bare, it’s time farmers and homesteaders began declaring their independence. No more obligatory concentrated feeds for us – farms used to produce all their own feeds, and they can do it again. And with so many calories that are so easy to grow, let tromboncino help you reduce or eliminate your animal feed bill this winter.

Why Grow Tromboncino? 

Ideally, it should also be a human food crop: something that, in case of food shortages, we could feed to people. Homegrown Animal Feed: Tromboncino Provide a strong trellis: Vines can easily reach 1.5m high and wide, often more, so make sure your trellis is strong enough. The flowers will decorate your gardenand encourage pollinators, while the fruit can hang down decoratively. Yes, tromboncinos can successfully grow in pots and containers. Plant up to one tromboncino per 5-gallon container to help control weeds and prevent excessive growth. Container gardening also offers the flexibility to move the plants around to adjust sunlight exposure or protect them from harsh weather by bringing them indoors. Are Tromboncinos Safe for Bees?

For a bumper crop. Tromboncino is super productive. You can often harvest 10 to 15 large fruit from each vine. Mulch all but the top of the mound, and as far out from it as you have mulch to spare – a foot or two, at least. In colder areas of Australia sow Tromboncino Squash seeds from October to December, in temperate regions sow from September to January, in subtropical regions sow from July to March, in tropical areas sow during the dry season from March to October. Sow Tromboncino Squash seeds 2cm deep spacing plants about 60cm apart to allow sufficient room for growth. Tromboncino Squash seeds take between 7 and 13 days to germinate. Watering is another key factor that influences the success of your tromboncino crop. The soil should be consistently damp but notsoggy or bone dry. Monitor the leaves for any color changes or droopiness, which signal the need for adjustments in watering. Over- or under-watering can be detrimental to the plants, so it’s essential to keep a close eye on their needs and water accordingly. How Long Does it Take Tromboncinos to Germinate and Grow? If vines are left to sprawl on the ground, the giant fruit gracefully curl in on themselves as if they’re curling around something, sometimes completing an entire circle. Alternatively, with the help of gravity, if allowed to hang from a trellis they will grow long and straight. This is one veg that’s at home in the novelty vegetable section at your local exhibition! Why Grow Tromboncino?For best results move winter squash to a warm dry area 80-90°F to cure; see each type (below) for curing requirements

Heat olive oil in a skillet and fry the slices of squash on either side until crispy but be careful not to burn them. According to the USDA, 100 grams of raw winter squash (about 2/3 cup) contains only 34 calories and 1.5 grams of dietary fiber. Like other squash varieties, tromboncino squash is rich in vitamins A and C and contains high levels of beta-carotene. For more information on winter squashes, you can head over to 11 Amazing Benefits Of Winter Squash. [3] [4] How To Cook Tromboncino Squash? Tromboncinoflowers are also edible and can be stuffed just like zucchini flowers, with rice and herbs, ricotta and lemon zest. Easy to use. Like butternut pumpkin, the seeds of tromboncino are all located in the bulbous end of the fruit, making preparing and chopping the fruit a breeze. Grow your own animal feed right on the homestead! Learn the benefits and how to grow tromboncino squash as a dual-purpose crop for man or beast.

Tromboncino Squash

Use the long thin section at the top of the tromboncino fruit to cook with; it’s seedless and has a lovely sweet flavour. The rounded end contains seeds, but the flesh around them is just as tasty. Use a spoon to remove the seeds before cooking. Treat your tromboncino like a regular squash or as a courgette substitute in dishes. Lend a hand with pollination: Like all cucurbits, the flowers may need help with pollination, so consult this guide to give the flowers a helping hand. Tromboncino (other names: vining zucchini, zucchetta rampicante) is a heritage squash that used to be a favorite for small farmers. We think it fell out of favor because it’s not cute, tiny, colorful, or outstandingly sweet. So – what’s to love about it?