Summer squash 'Tromboncino'

Squash 'Tromboncino' is one of the most multi-purpose plants we grow – it's a good ornamental climber, shaped like a trombone, has good mildew resistance, is good to eat small (as a courgette) and ripens and stores once large (as a winter-storing squash). Unusual – grow for the weird veg in your village show – and incredible for its versatility.

Genus	Cucurbita pepo
Variety	Tromboncino
Type	Half-Hardy Annual Climber
Common Name	Summer squash
Soil Type	Fertile
Site	Full Sun, Shelter
Moisture	Moist but Well-drained
Height	90-120cm (36-48in)
Spacing	60cm (24in) apart in each direction when the plants have 5-6 leaves.
Sowing, Seeds, Planting	Soak seed overnight and sow under cover from late March- April. Push seed, on its side (to prevent it rotting), 2-3cm deep into a 9cm pot of compost. Can be sown direct after last frosts, from May to June.
Care Tips	Feed well with plenty of organic matter. Pick fruit regularly to prolong the harvest. This variety is ideal for growing up a trellis or archway (which will make the fruit grow straighter).
Harvesting	Late June to October. The fruits are best at about 25cm long, but can grow up to 1 metre!
Cooking Notes	Perfect for grilling, roasting, frying, or eating raw in salads.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
Flowers/Harvest

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Summer squash 'Tromboncino' reviews

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Tromboncino - super squash!

Reviewed 11th April 2017 by Cara James

Grew 6 of these last year up and over a rose arch with tagetes linnaeus underneath. Just beautiful! Not only does the foliage and huge flowers look lush and almost tropical, but the fruits store really well for winter and are superb in stews and soups seasoned with some warming spices.
They are obviously hungry plants so I would say using planting pockets with lots of well rotted manure dug in is a must, and to mulch with garden compost to reduce moisture loss is certainly worth the effort.
Another added bonus is that as long as you train and tie them in as they grow the fruiting stem grows thick enough to hold the weight of the large fruit - which saves a lot of flaffing around, having to support the fruit with old tights as you have to do with some winter squash grow vertically, which is quite ungainly and not ascetically pleasing in the garden. I can't praise this squash plant highly enough, especially with its double function of being like a courgette when small and yet being a winter squash and storing so well. If one can only grow one squash then this is it, I'm just ordering more to grow over a pergola this year. Happy days!
Thank you Sarah for introducing me to this super squash!

Fun but not always successful in northern climes ...

Reviewed 13th March 2015 by Rachel Bell

This will be my forth year of growing Tromboncino: I really enjoy growing them and they look great climbing up wigwams or the wall. But for me (in a walled garden in a chilly Scottish glen) the amount of fruit I get is very variable - sometimes not much at all - but always delicious when I do.

My monster

Reviewed 28th August 2014 by Helena Johnson

This is my third year of growing Tromboncino courgettes and the best one yet!! My monster measures 103cm and keeps growing; even though I let them grow big they're still very tasty. I shall submit the latest photo on your Facebook page.

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