Tromboncino seed

[jayb]

I hand-pollinated my first two. Male flowers are still in short supply and no guarantee the bees were going to get the pollen to the right flowers (unless you didn't want them to)

I love how your growing space appears so calm and relaxed, looks really tranquil. I think it looks like a lovely spot to just sit, chill and relax. I just seem to have a noisy and messy jungle or two to contend with.

[jayb]

I think mine all have had at least one bend too.

[Jang]

My only certain Tromboncino fruit. is one outdoors growing up a fence. I agree that growing them up doesn't guarantee a straight one. Mine all start off with a pronounced bend; nothing anywhere near as straight as Jayb's.

My polytunnel plant seems to produce lots of females which look promising for ages but actually then don't develop. I presume they're struggling to find pollinators; perhaps I need to attempt to give a helping hand.

[Galina]

I finally have the one. But the idea of the obelisk for them to get straight fruit doesn't seem to work out. I had 2 not pollinated fruit and one nice fat one. But all of them started off with a bend before going straight.

[jayb]

Yay, finally a few fruits forming in the jungle.



Hope the both of you didn't have plants so shy.

[jayb]

I'm not so sure Jang, taking what you have both said, I think my one plant might have been a mistake. I did mean to plant two others in pots but never got around to it. 
They are indeed enjoying the heat at the moment.

[jayb]

"Would you eat your mini females with the flower as well? I believe this might be considered a delicacy all round." I think I need to search around for recipes might be called for. You've made them sound exotic and something to be cherished. If anyone has any advice or ideas I'm all ears.

[jayb]

Thanks for the confirmation
Oooh, I could do with some of those male flowers here, squash plants are so weird and temperamental. I've sometimes wondered if it is printed in invisible ink on the seeds - female flowers only or male flowers only for 1 month!

[Galina]

They are however cucurbita moschatas, albeit the easiest moschata to grow. In a heatwave they will do very well, but you will not get the glut that you get from courgettes. And of course any eaten as courgettes will not be stored fully grown for winter. Glad that you finally got the right ones to grow and that they are doing well. .

[Galina]

3 plants. One obelisk with 2 the other with the third plant. But I only have male flowers at the moment. Yes the female flowers are already sizeable courgettes. I have certainly eaten just the flower and embryo.

[Jang]

Would you eat your mini females with the flower as well? I believe this might be considered a delicacy all round.

I have four plants. One is growing along the ground in a bed of squash, one is in the polytunnel growing up a kind of makeshift frame and two are growing up a fence. Having had the hitches over getting the right seed, I thought I’d make reasonably thorough use of it. I’ve no real idea of expected yield though. I imagine this should probably give far more than we can use. One plant is probably much more sensible.

[jayb]

My tromboncino has started with some female flowers, am I right in thinking I can use these as mini squash whilst the males catch up? I'm sure I remember Squash 64 (A4A) singing their virtues.

Thinking I should have put in more than one plant, How many are you guys growing?

[jayb]

Good point Galina, I'm wondering if the same might be true of luffa's, though they are not as long fruited, always supposing they do fruit.

[Galina]

Mine are planted at the base of an obelisk, intended for the fruit hanging down straight. If they are scrambling along the ground, the fruit will be very curly.

[Jang]

I did get some from another company and have plants under way, so looking forward. Are they best grown climbing up a frame or trailing along the ground - or are they happy either way?

No further response from Seekay but your question has prompted me to write again to Seekay and ask whether they’ve had a response from their supplier. Also suggested that a refund might be in order!