Tromboncino (squash)

Cucurbita moschata 'Tromboncino'
Tromboncino summer squash, with blossoms
Species	Cucurbita moschata
Cultivar	Tromboncino
Origin	Liguria, Italy

Tromboncino (Italian: [trombonˈtʃiːno]), also known as zucchetta (Italian: [tsukˈketta]), is a type of squash most often used as a summer squash.

While nearly all summer squash are cultivars of Cucurbita pepo,^[1] tromboncino is a cultivar of Cucurbita moschata.^[1][2] The vining growth habit^[1][3] is similar to many winter squashes, but unlike most other summer squash.^[1] It is more tolerant to some common summer squash pests, including squash vine borer,^[2] squash bugs,^[2] and powdery mildew, than the more commonly grown, bushy, C. pepo summer squash cultivars.^[2] The plants are slower to start producing than some C. pepo types.^[2] The fruit color is usually pale green, fading to beige upon maturity,^[1] and it is picked around one foot long for summer squash. It is an heirloom,^[4] originally from Liguria,^[5] and remains popular throughout Italy and abroad.^[1][3] Tromboncino squash can be left to mature into a winter squash; such is often compared to a watery^[6] butternut squash.^[7][5] If left to ripen, the fruits can grow over three feet in length.^[4] Its flesh is delicious roasted or when prepared in a stew or soup.

Tromboncino is known by many other common names as well,^[1] including: zucchetta rampicante,^[5] zucchino rampicante,^[1] climbing zucchini, climbing crookneck,^[3] trombolino d'albenga, trombetta and serpentine squash.^[5]

• Aehobak