Tromba d'albenga

[Morris]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum.

I bought some tromba d'albenga seeds for the first time this year; just about to sow in greenhouse.  I thought they were a trailing squash and intend to plant them up a frame.  However, the packet (seeds of italy) says they are bush??  A quick search on the forum reveals plenty of people saying they grow enormous and trail - can people please confirm this as I am now worried they will be bush plants and just lurk at the bottom of my frame??

Many thanks, Mandy.

[Morris]

[cornykev]

Hi Mandy and welcome, I'm pretty sure its a climber,I know a few on our site grow them and they climb up a frame and hang down, there's a few on here that grow them and I'm sure they'll be along soon, I think they used to be Betty's avatar.   :-\      ;D ;D ;D

[grannyjanny]

I await the replies on this one as I am about to buy some seeds.

[Digeroo]

I have grown them for a number of years and have always found them to be a very vigorous climber.  If you stand still for a few minutes I am sure they will climb up your legs ;D

I grew several up very chunky canes and two each produced a fruit about waist high.  They looked rather amusing  The were nicknames the odd couple.    

My packet certainly Franchi so they must have made a mistake on the packet.  They are related to a butternut squash.

They do not store for as long as other types of squash so I tend to use them first.  They have a great knack of putting out beads of sweet liquid which sets hard when you cut them so they last several days without going mouldy.  Also good eaten young as a courgette.

Welcome to the forum Morris.

[amphibian]

I have never had issues with storing tromba. I use them as a winter squash because they're like a yard long butternut. My favourite squash of all.

[galina]

Tall here.  SOI's website information does not say 'bush' either.  Must be a printing error on the packet.  I am sure they want to know about that mistake pronto.

[1066]

welcome to A4A Morris - plenty of great ideas and advice on here  :) I'm growing them for the 1st time too  ;D

[Morris]

Thanks all for the advice and welcome.   ;D

I have emailed Franchi and will let you know what they say, but I am going to assume the squashes are trailing, as I had thought.

[Robert_Brenchley]

My packet (from Franchi) says bush.

[amphibian]

My seed are from Franchi, but I no longer have the packet, they are definitely trailing.

[Morris]

Well, I've had 2 separate replies from Franchi to my email!  This is what one said:

Hi there Amanda



Thank you for bringing this miss print to our attention.



It deffinately a trailing variety as the fruits can potentially get as long as your forearm given the right climactic conditions. One of our customers built a pergola type construction for it one summe,  so the fruits could hang down.



Best regards

Alex Arrigo


So, misprint it is!

[amphibian]

As long as your forearm! I've had them twice that length.