| An exuberant squash patch |
The C. moschata varieties (which include tromboncino) are somewhat hairy, and resistant to the moth that lays the eggs that become the squash vine borers (its larvae).
I even resorted this year (in my front beds) to growing butternuts (in addition to the tromboncino and another Mexican variety - Tatume) as an experiment. I don't have room for butternuts to mature, for sure, but I thought, hmm, why not see what they taste like as immature squash?
They're not bad -- a interesting rich flavor compared to "normal" summer squash, with a dense texture to match. I've been harvesting them at about 3 inches long.
But I've been amazed at how robust my squash plantings have been, both above and below in the raised beds. The lower bed (in the picture) is amazing -- I was quite sure the local woodchuck would nibble the seedlings to nubbins, but they got beyond that size, and quickly attained a large tough quality (presumably) that wasn't appealing. (I've had them mow down young squash seedlings in the past).
So (thanks to a combination of planting late and circumstance), my squash vines look great -- we'll see if they produce (the lower bed is starting to flower now, but looks a bit nitrogen-rich, thanks to plentiful mushroom compost in the spring!)