Tromba d’Albenga is an Italian climbing squash with long curved fruits that swell at one end like a trumpet. Harvest them young as courgettes for a sweet, nutty flavour. Leave them to mature for winter squash that stores well.
Vigorous climbing habit means it grows vertically on a trellis or fence, saving ground space. One of the most productive squash varieties you can grow. The young fruits are excellent sliced thin and fried in olive oil.
🌱 Sowing information
Sow from April to June in pots or directly outdoors once the soil has warmed. Cover lightly and keep the soil evenly moist.
☀️ Light exposure
Requires full sun to develop flavour, sweetness and strong growth.
💧 Water needs
Water generously and consistently, especially during fruit formation. Avoid waterlogging.
🌡️ Germination temperature & time
Germinates in 7–14 days under warm, steady temperatures.
📏 Plant spacing & final size
Transplant seedlings 80–100 cm apart. Vigorous climbing habit; provide trellis or support.
Bullet Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: 2–3 cm
📅 Sow: April–June
☀️ Light: full sun
🌡️ Germination: 7–14 days
📏 Height: climbing variety
🪴 Spacing: 80–100 cm
⏳ Harvest: July–October
🔢 Seeds: approx. 4 g
When to sow
April to May indoors, outside from late May. This variety is a climber, so it needs a fence, trellis or arch. It can also be left to trail along the ground.
How to grow
Treat it like a courgette but give it a vertical structure to climb. The plant is more drought-tolerant than standard courgettes once established. Harvest the fruits at 30 to 40cm for best flavour.
Recipe idea
Zucchetta fritte. Slice into rounds, dust with flour, fry in olive oil until golden. A pinch of salt. That is it. In Liguria they eat this with every meal in summer.
