There are Many Reasons to Grow the Magnificent Cucurbita Moschata ‘Tromboncino’ Squash!

One of our favorite winter squash is butternut, so we knew we’d probably also enjoy its cousin, the Tromboncino, “trombone squash”.

An Italian heirloom, the family name the trombone squash shares with butternut is Cucurbita moschata. So while the scientific name for butternut is Cucurbita moschata ‘butternut’, the scientific name for the Trombone Squash is Cucurbita moschata ‘Tromboncino’.

The species Cucurbita moschata, are typically grown as winter squash, for fall and winter harvests of a richly sweet and firm, hardy squash with hard, thick skin. But Tromboncino is different.

The Tromboncino Can Be a Summer or Winter Squash or Both!

Interestingly, the Tromboncino, “trombone squash”, is typically harvested and eaten in summer along with summer squash, when it is tender and mild in flavor, with edible skin.

However, the Tromboncino can also be allowed to mature into fall, where the skin will harden and mature and the interior vegetable will take on more of the flavor, texture and color of its kindred butternut squash.

So you’ll want to plant extra Tromboncino Trombone Squash to enjoy as a summer vegetable and to let grow on for a fall or winter harvest.

Plant extra Tromboncino Trombone Squash to cover two harvest seasons each year.

What Does the Tromboncino Squash taste like?

When harvested in summer, the Tromboncino’ has a mildly delicate flavor reminiscent of zucchini, but a tinge sweeter and smoother.

As it matures into a winter squash, trombone squash takes on more of the flavor and texture of butternut squash, but with hints of the zucchini flavor.

Subsequently, because of flavor and appearance, it is often called Tromboncino zucchini, however, while both are cucurbits, and thus in the gourd family, Tromboncino is a Cucurbita moschata and zucchini is a Cucurbita pepo.

How To Cook Tromboncino Squash

You can cook Tromboncino squash in all the ways you would enjoy zucchini. In fact, the mild flavor of trombone squash makes it perfect for spiralized noodles, or zoodles, which is one of our favorite ways to enjoy it. Here are some other ideas.

Ways to Cook Trombone Squash

• GRILLED –
  • Grilled vegetable sandwich
  • Sliced vertically in long strips
  • Sliced in rounds and skewered with other veggies
• ROASTED – lightly brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper
  • Roasted Tromboncino and summer squash lasagna
• SPIRALIZED and used as noodles for –
  • Alfredo sauce
  • Garlic butter
  • Marinara sauce
  • Pesto
  • Summer salads

Find more zucchini recipes that you can use as Tromboncino squash recipes.

One average immature Tromboncino squash can yield about the same amount of food as 5 large zucchini.

Tromboncino Squash is Pest Resistant

Another great reason to grow Tromboncino squash is because it is pest resistant. By growing squash bug resistant squash, such as Tromboncino, Tetsukabuto and butternut squash, we’re saving lots of time and hassle in trying to combat squash pests.

But… if you’re growing squash that is plagued by squash pests, these articles should help: How to get rid of squash bugs, and how to get rid of squash vine borer.

Growing Tromboncino Squash

• 70 days to full maturity – however –
  • may be harvested from 12″ as a summer squash
  • harvest at around 36″ as a fall or winter squash
• Full sun
• Direct sow or transplants
• Vining plant; good to trellis; works great on vertical gardening using cattle panels

Contributions by the Community

This is an assortment of cat approved squash that I grew last year. I will definitely plant them again. So fun to watch them grow on the trellises.
~Donna Forrest

“This one was huge, I thinks it weighed 8 pounds and ended up as soup and delicious zucchini bread.”
~Jane Seeley

“Last year was my first year growing them and I was quite pleased with the results. Very tasty as a summer squash but since I had such an abundance I let several harden off as winter squash. So fun watching them grow!”
~Jane Seeley

“Last year was my first year growing them and I was quite pleased with the results. Very tasty as a summer squash but since I had such an abundance I let several harden off as winter squash. So fun watching them grow!”
~Jane Seeley

Tromboncino Squash Art

GardensAll friend, Jane Seely loves to play with her food, and she regularly creates art from her garden harvests!

Let us know how you like growing Tromboncino and any photos or recipes you’d like to share are welcome.