I'm getting ready to plant some squash this summer but can't decide which varieties to go for. I think I can manage 3 or maybe 4 if I find smaller ones or prune heavily. Taste is my priority, and my household really loves squash blossoms too. I'm in zone 10, so I've got a long growing season. Here are the options I'm considering: 1. Zucchino rampicante - I have a trellis for it and have never tried it before. I love zucchini but can't stand yellow summer squash, so fingers crossed the immature rampicante tastes similar to zucchini. I'm also curious about some winter squashes, but I'm not a fan of butternut squash. 2. Ayote squash - It looks interesting and could share a trellis with the rampicante. 3. Gelber Englischer custard - I've heard great things about its taste, but I'm unsure because I don't generally like patty pan squash. 4. Astia zucchini - I've grown this before and loved its flavor and blossoms, though it didn't do well in containers. 5. Climbing zucchini - I'm considering this option as well. Also, does anyone know of compact zucchini varieties? Astia supposedly is, but it still took over my raised bed. And any tips on how to get zucchini to drape over a planter would be appreciated!
3 Answers
I've grown Rampicante and it's quite aggressive! It doesn't play nice with other plants if you have limited space. It’s great for storage - I’ve kept one all winter and it's perfectly fine! Just a heads up, I used a tall tomato cage to keep my variety contained, and it worked pretty well for me. You might want to think about that for control!
Rampicante is often referred to as Tromboncino, and it can take over easily. If picked young, it makes a good zucchini substitute, but it’s definitely a big plant. As for Ayote, its color can be off-putting in dishes, since it cooks up a weird greenish brown. The taste is fine but nothing special. Custard squashes are like pattypans, so if you don't like those, this might not be your best bet! Container growing can be tricky, so keep that in mind for Astia.
Good to know about Ayote! I didn’t realize the color could look weird. Thanks for the heads up!
I love growing Z. Rampicante! The immature squash is fantastic and has a unique flavor—definitely better than yellow squash. But watch out because this plant can take over! It’s quite a producer and resistant to certain pests. I’m in zone 8 and find it grows well on a trellis, but it dominates the area.
Wow, sounds like I should reconsider sharing a trellis with it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the tomato cage tip! I'm definitely considering that now.