You Absolutely Have To Grow This Awesome Plant! - Tromboncino Snake Squash! 🐍 🌱

Today we're growing one of my new favourite fruiting vegetables - the versatile and delicious Tromboncino :)
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In this video we'll be covering the full process of growing tromboncino from seed to harvest, including everything you need to know about sprouting the seeds, pollination, fertilizing and how to use the tromboncino fruits that you grow.
We'll also be stuffing and deep-frying the flowers in a similar way as zucchini or pumpkin flowers too.
We'll harvest them and then I'll show you a few delicious ways to use these vegetables in the kitchen.
Tromboncino squash, also known as Zucchetta or Zucchino Rampicante, or Serpent of Sicily, is a versatile Italian heirloom vegetable. Its distinctive, elongated shape resembles a snake or trombone and they can grow to impressive lengths, often exceeding two feet, making it a unique addition to gardens.
Its high yield and pest resistance make it such an awesome vegetable to grow. It has a rich history in Sicilian cuisine and is gaining popularity worldwide for its culinary versatility and unusual appearance.
Deep-fried flowers:
10 male tromboncino flowers
Cook 1 cup rice then mixed with pesto. Pesto: Basil leaves, pine nuts, water, olive oil, lime juice, garlic, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast
Sundried tomatoes
Stuff flowers with some pesto rice, add a few sundried tomato pieces, then more pesto rice. close flower, twist end then dip in batter.
Batter: 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup cornflour, 3/4 cup sparkling water. Whisk until smooth
Immediately after dipping flower into batter, place flower into very hot vegetable oil in a large pot. Cook for a minute or so until golden brown. Season with salt and lemon juice, serve with chopped basil leaves, pinenuts and whatever else you like.
Tromboncino Soup ingredients: Tromboncino, carrot, garlic, red onion, salt, pepper, vegetable stock.
Asian stir fry tromboncino ingredients - tromboncino, capsicum, mushroom, onion, soy sauce, kecap manis sauce, chili, ginger, salt pepper.
Tromboncinno fritters - grated tromboncino and potato, onion, garlic, parsley, salt pepper, flour, corn starch.
Plant based lasagna: Layers as follows
Lasagna pasta sheets
Tomato pasta sauce (I also has basil and corgette in mine).
Wide slices of tromboncino roasted with oil, salt and pepper.
Plant based white sauce - Olive oil (2 tblsp), soy milk (1/4 cup), flour (2 tblsp) - mix together on medium heat until smooth, add 1.75 cups soy milk, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast (2.5tblsp). Still on the heat until thickened.
(make several layers of the above in a large oven dish).
Add panko crumbs and plant based mozzarella on top and fan bake at 190C for 30-40 mins or so until golden brown.
Tromboncino pie:
Base: peanut butter, coconut oil, vegan butter, flour, ,salt, sugar, water, ginger powder, cinnamon. Bake the base in a large tart pan the oven until cooked through.
Filling - cubed then blended tromboncino, coconut milk, peanut butter, vanilla essence, vegan butter, corn starch, cinnamon, all spice.
Add filling to base then bake again at 180c for around 25 mins or until cooked.
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0:00 Intro
0:24 Sprouting seeds
0:49 Planting seedlings
1:46 3 weeks after planting in the ground
1:57 Vining and climbing tromboncino
2:43 Building with bamboo
3:10 Male and female flowers
3:58 Hand pollination of tromboncino flowers
4:36 Stuffing and deep-frying the flowers
7:41 Tasting the deep-fried flowers
8:04 Tromboncino fruits forming
9:12 Time to harvest!
10:27 Making a four-course meal with tromboncino
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[@TheKiwiGrower]

If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor BetterHelp. Click betterhelp.com/thekiwigrower for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs. Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed! :) -Kalem

[@jmoney4000]

It’s always a good day when Kalem uploads. Cheers!

[@damienwolf5833]

Lots of truth in these words😅😅 Sad we gotta wait a while for the next one. But it's understandable due to the type of content. Very very wholesome video that always puts a smile on my face

[@petervan1353]

I completely agree with you! Sometimes wish he would upload more often.

[@nickoplays980]

I agree

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

You can eat these immature like zucchini (courgettes). IIRC, this is what they were originally developed for in Italy. They have a somewhat denser texture than the usual summer squash. You don't have to peel them either green or mature.

[@andreaorourke]

Yum, I could just about taste the stuffed flowers. Yummy!! Absolutely love the videos that follow from seed to harvest to plate. Appreciate the time and effort it must take.

[@SandstormCloudwave]

Southern Hemisphere summer incoming means we'll be seeing a lot more of Kalem! Looking forward to what you'll be bringing us over the summer!

[@VijayKumar01234]

I'm proud to say, I'm subscriber of your channel Mr.Motivator. 🙏👏👌

[@genkestrel7254]

Sorry to hear you've been struggling during the year. Feel better and I'm so pleased for you that your garden and cooking provides you with nourishing restoration and creative inspiration

[@bublhed]

I grew these for the first time this year! I’m so glad you showed other ways to cook them. I wasn’t able to find too many options. I’m definitely going to try the lasagna. My fritters didn’t turn out well. The recipe called for the earlier stage - more like a zucchini. There was also a zucchini bake I found, (made with tromboncino). This called for ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, pasta sauce and Parmesan.

[@maecarpenter6735]

I'm not even done watching this video and I want to like it a thousand times! Love the gardening and cooking together! How can I express how much I love this! Subscribing and looking forward to ALL your videos ❤❤❤

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks so much, I’m really glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@johnstoneagle2220]

I know right!!!!!!

[@f.n.schlub2269]

Don't forget to roast the extra seeds for snacking, breads, salad garnish and tahini. yum

[@ksonder]

Learned so much from this video, thank you. Loved the plant-based recipes.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

You're welcome :)

[@bianca_1005]

Your video popped up in my feed and how awesome is it? Tromboncino means "little trombone" in Italian, I knew them as a courgette variety but the fully matured version looks fantastic. Congratulations for your plentiful production! The plants looked really healthy and happy. The stuffed flowers are a typical appetizer or snack here, you can simply fry the flowers in batter and sprinkle salt (or sugar for a sweet snack, my grandma made them for us as kids). You can stuff them in a lot of ways, a typical one is meat, bologna, parsley and cheese like parmigiano. Any courgette/squash/pumpkin flower lends itself to this, definitely worth a try.

[@traceydeakin7731]

You should start an online store to sell your seeds! I'd definitely be shopping!

[@Alyss93]

Those fried squash flowers look sooo delicious 😍 Thank you for sharing!! ETA: And all the other foods too! Wow!

[@Nyuhx3]

Love the recipe part! :) Just a little tiP: Roast you're (pine)nuts, it makes a HUGE difference. I made Some Hazelnut-chocolate-cream earlier this year and got addicted to warm roastet Hazelnuts ❤

[@ayushmaanuday51]

Waiting for your video and finally wait is over Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@JDPalFruits]

Amazing video mate. It’s amazing the amount of time you put into making these. I’m really looking forward to your next episodes. Living in the UK, we’re coming into autumn & winter now, so I’m limited on what I can do in the garden. Your videos always inspire me for the warmer seasons when it’s cold outside. Thank you!

[@aidancroft8881]

Really enjoyed the plan-based recipes Kalem! Everything in your videos always looks so delicious …✨. Always a treat to get a video from you 💞

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks heaps!

[@unclebubbaknowseverything9143]

Thanks a lot bud. Love your videos. Im off to eBay now to find some seeds.... Howdy from Texas 🤠

[@TheKiwiGrower]

You're welcome, hope it goes well!

[@growwell8872]

I just said this morning that I better find some cooking inspiration for the trombochino & here you are! One of the Potty Mouth Garden Club members posted a link & the timing is perfect!! Great information-Thanks!!

[@icekamus78]

we add the flowers inside quesadillas, they're super yummy!

[@nikiiijello1217]

So awesome to see all the different ways it can be cooked!❤

[@jennanelson7671]

where do you get your intersting seeds? Would love to know of more places in NZ to get different seeds

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Kings seeds online have some good ones. Also Koanga. These ones I just got from mitre10 :)

[@kathrynkidd7828]

Also Egmont seeds in Taranaki has a good online catalogue. I first got my seeds about 4 years ago from King Seeds in Katikati.

[@meatavoreNana]

Saw them on Roots And Refuge Farm. Didnt know you could get them here (NZ)

[@kellynbtln8234]

Kings seeds sell them as rampicante. Grew them last year they were amazing. So I looked them up to see if they were the same. Rampicante diff name for them. Yates sell them as zuchetta tromboncino 🌸🌼

[@rrichards1210]

​@@kellynbtln8234thank you so much. This is the information I was searching for. I was planning a Kings Seeds order today so I'll be adding this!

[@kellynbtln8234]

Does anyone know where to get cachucha pepper. Saw the Hollar Homestead growing. Is a sweetish pepper that looks like a little spaceship ha🌻

[@bethanyc5712]

Oh these took over my veggie patch last year! 😂 I had some fantastically weird shapes!

[@Havolli]

The Trombocino pie looked HEAVENLY!! It seemed so silky and nice !

[@pagevpetty]

Your pretty kitty, Snowy, thinks you are talking to her :)

[@fareebug8439]

Wow, what a fantastic and all inclusive video about this! Thank you for the lovely recipe ideas!

[@rachelmadrone3168]

This is one of my favorite squash to grow! We have a really tough time with squash bugs here, and this variety always pulls through. We love to spiralize the neck into noodles! It's really quick and just needs a light cooking to be ready. I'm so impressed with your garden, your energy, and now your culinary creations! Beautiful ❤️

[@brigidaodonnell7053]

We are growing tromboncini from seed here in the South Island of New Zealand and they are really great value as so many are on every plant and they are easy care. Thankyou for highlighting tromboncini in your video!

[@kathrynkidd7828]

I have grown these for the last 3 or 4 years in Hawkes Bay. They are great as they hold their shape during cooking. I slice, grate and freeze them for stir fries and soups in winter. I prefer to eat them when young rather than leave them until they mature. They are really versatile.

[@TheLazyDutchGardener]

Your videos are always so good! Months of progress (and patience!!) in one video is amazing. Thank you Kalem! ❤

[@HelbosWelt]

We need these recipes!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

I'll add the ingredients and some details about the meals to the video description :)

[@shervin6711]

I live in New England in the US...I can't believe I never heard of these before...they lived through our vine borers, squash bugs, mildew, and stored all winter, 7 months ... In our dining room as conversation pieces lol! They probably would last even longer they showed no sign of spoilage!

[@Naive_Assassin29]

We want a video on ur food forest want to see those apple plants that u have grafted before.. someday i want to live like u ..the place and peace u have there is dream for me .. make more videos we love to see u don't keep us waiting bro♥️

[@robinc7235]

I live in North Carolina and my squash plants always get attacked by squash vine borers. I've heard good things about growing this variety of squash and am looking forward to giving them a try this year. Thanks for very informative video!

[@yvonnedebruin595]

Those meals looked fantastic. Now to go buy some seeds and give it a go.🙂

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Hope it goes well! :)

[@alchanel7548]

I was really hoping Caroline would join you in the cooking segment, you guys are sweet together.

[@baddriversofcolga]

This is nice to see as I grew way too much Tromboncino this year and I needed some inspiration on what to do with them. Thanks!

[@Ezra-bd9rb]

Hello kalem !it’s been a long time since I commented in on of your videos. I have to say that looks so good ! 👏

[@janglangmalatang7475]

He come far .. love zucchini. Can stuff them . Leb ones . 🦋

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Hi there, thanks for the comment :)

[@benburns5995]

Wow, have to say you really have a green thumb for growing stuff and the 4 course meal looked awesome as well. I have never heard of Tromboncino and it is amazing how big they grow. Did you happen to weigh the big one you cooked with? That was really huge.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks so much! No I didn't weigh it but it was decently heavy! haha

[@annhans3535]

You grew a squash pumpkin.🤣. Never knew there was that kind of snake squash. My next door neighbor grows the green ones. We get free snake squash every summer.

[@Garuthius]

I do wish you grower types would dedicate a small section on the why's and wherefores of the best way to store the produce. I know it may be common knowledge to the "community" but for a novice grower it would be useful information to know when making the decisions about what to grow, even before you actually start putting anything into the ground. But big Kudos for the plant -> grow -> harvest -> cooking format, its really nice not just to see how its grown, but a really good section on what you can do with it. Keep up the good work. :D

[@PeterEntwistle]

Wow, such a cool-looking squash! And those meals look incredible Kalem! 😋

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Cheers Peter! :)

[@ryanjohnson3615]

Saw the thumbnail and thought I'd come send thoughts and prayers for your recovery. Why God Why? lol

[@TheKiwiGrower]

😂

[@lyndiekite1428]

Would love to find some tromboncino seed, but so far, no luck. Your 4 course meal looked delicious.

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Hope you manage to get some. They also go by the name Zuchetta and Rampicante if that helps

[@lyndiekite1428]

Thanks, I’ll check those two names out.

[@SoberOKMoments]

Wishing you garden happiness and the loving company of your lovely cat. A beautiful video. Thank you for sharing your bounty with all of us. Your work is important!

[@fitztastico]

We grew them this summer for the first time after struggling with the squash vine borer in the USA. The stems are tough enough that the moth can't burrow in and the bonus is how well they grow!

[@mariawhite1328]

Good timing as I am growing these for the first time this year!

[@anasqureshi.]

Please kalem we need that forest's update

[@lilSweeps]

Genuinely one of my favorite channels and probably only one of 5 KZbinrs I come back to now

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks for the support! :)

[@ruud9767]

Awesome! I must get some seeds for these.

[@doraw7766]

This was awesome. I just ordered some seeds!!!! I did not know they were edible. Thank you.

[@dvdpastor]

Hi! glad to see a new video!. And funny thing, I bought seeds of a similar snake squash in Sicily some years ago (green when mature and white flowers), and actually planted them. Very nice shapes and I even won a small rural contest of pumpkins/squashes with one of them, in shape of a cobra... Flesh had a rather subtle taste, but the vine grew big, with lots of flowers and I only let them on the ground, no climbing. But yours look like bigger and tastier fruits, I have to say... probably more water, fertilizer and care! And squash flowers are a thing in Italy... though last thing I've made with them were quesadillas with smoked cheese... But well, hope you really like them, cause you have a full year of squash-based meals ahead, what a harvest! And thank you for the video!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

That sounds awesome! So cool you won that contest too :) Glad you liked the video

[@sox7784]

Great to see you back 👍

[@gmargenka8983]

This was awesome! I have wanted to grow these for years. I will do it next season! I loved seeing all the courses, I too get so much at one time that it’s nice to see how to plan several courses. Thank You!!

Super content, keep it up. :)

[@idzneha]

Beautiful video and good ideas on cooking with the produce.😊

[@arieswildchild]

So glad to see you again! We also raise those, love them!

[@martingalarza8803]

Thanks for making some of the best videos on youtube. I always learn alot. I know it's hard work but you are very good at it. I will definitely try the recipes. Especially the pie 🥧! Keep doing great things.

[@johntonkin9948]

Great stuff mate from across the ditch. Trying these tromboncinos for the first time in my garden. Good to hear you are getting help with your mental health. I find that gardening helps me put things back into perspective. Just being out in the fresh air with my hands in the soil.

[@SandstormCloudwave]

That cooking looks fantastic!

[@havingalook2]

Very interesting. Not sure I ever knew of this vegetable. Lovely, thank you.

[@IWantMyTimTV]

Beautiful video. Thank you!

[@dwgryphon]

Thank you for timing this video so perfectly! You convinced me, I went out and got a packet, and they're now happily sprouting. Looking forward to seeing them in the community garden.

[@rhiannonpearl]

Absolutely adore this video! Happy to see plant-based recipes too! Cheers!

[@sura2047]

One of my favourite things to grow! We have a large family and these give us so much food from just one fruit!

[@dosquats]

awesome growth!

[@jaxrunner904]

We really struggle with growing squash in Florida. Squash borer’s get the cucumbers and zucchini every time! I’m trying the native Seminole pumpkin this season and it’s going crazy. I’m wondering if your squash would also do well because of the roots. Seminole pumpkins do the same thing. Something to try for next year. Thanks!

[@gardeningwithkay]

I’m going to grow some next year, thank you for the inspiration ❤

[@felinetherapy4782]

What a amazing plant! Looks delish.

[@gardenwitheden]

It sure is I also love to grow this is my garden!

[@Rebekahxoxo]

That was an amazing and inspiring video, thanks 😀

[@jocelynashley4337]

Wow, love the video and especially your cooking!!! Looks delicious 😊

[@angelaobrien7698]

Love your videos ❤. Time I think for you to publish a book, really interested in your recipes from the garden and fantastic bamboo trellis so clever.

[@medacredland3461]

Awesome cooking ideas. Grew these last year and just planted seed for this year.

[@erickkajae]

Nice! It seems one of these plants have popped up in my compost. 😆😅The leaves look just the same🥰🥰🥰 How long did it take before the flowers formed? How long before you harvested your fruits? I love your recipes. You’re a chef!💛💛💛😋

[@paganmike444]

Hi Kiwigrower here is old trick i use for my butternut pumpkins which i grow on a trellis - As the fruit is developing Cover them with pantyhose which will expand as they grow but will also help in the preventions of bugs and mites and when you go to store them they can be hung up as well - i have done this for years as the pantyhose can be re-used each year Its also great for tying up vines etc as it allows he plants to move with winds without damaging the stems etc:):_

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Great tip! Thanks :)

[@kezwall4506]

Wow, that food looks soo delicious. Really like your videos, very informative and easy to watch and inspiring!

[@carolineashley7456]

Snowy is my therapist ❤

[@Ed19601]

These are super super productive

[@wardsdotnet]

I grew these last year and only had a few decent sized ones. I tried to grow them again this year but the climate did not smile upon me this time. Next year hopefully we'll be better. I am jealous because in your southern hemisphere garden you don't have to wait 6 months to find out

[@annhans3535]

This year was awful for gardeners. Spring came late and was too cold. Everything came in too late and now fall is here already.

[@lisathiedeman4487]

This is such a great video! A four course meal! How wonderfully versatile is the trombochini!.

[@megm.c4026]

Wish you lived near me so I could invite myself to dinner!! I so need Trombancino in my garden. Thanks for the awesome Vid.

[@NotPalliot]

I love squash!

[@karenashley2972]

Thanks Kalem. Awesome video. Will definitely be giving this one a go.

[@thortaub5464]

You may be really really really full but there's always room for dessert even when there's not

[@jfiekms]

Wow you put so much effort into that trombocino meal. Thank you for the Video

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Thanks for watching!

[@jfiekms]

@@TheKiwiGrower Hey, i dońt know if you care but partly because of your videos and some other creators i have completely redone the lifeless ornamental garden my parents had at our house in Berlin, Germany forever and planted Figs, a bunch of veggies and herbs, Paw Paws (actually completely because of you and they make an incredible addition to our garden in this climate as people think you can only grow Apples Pears and Plums), a small Yuzu tree, a bunch of Physalis ive been harvesting from an even smaller trifoliate orange, and 2 different varieties of Feijoas. I really hope that they will survive the winters every year but being in zone 8a it should theoretically work…Just wanted to let you know how much of an impact you make even though im on the other side of the planet. Thank you so much for your videos and im really happy anytime you upload. so greetings from germany!

[@johnstoneagle2220]

What anincredible versatile vegetable. Thank you for sharing.

[@kayvong6397]

Love your channel❤

[@MB-co6qj]

Love your vids mate ❤

[@chazhawaii7608]

Thanks for another awesome video. This one made me think you need to add a cooking show. Not that you have any time for yet another thing... 😉

[@shannonmartinez8036]

I definitely want to try growing those! Thank you Kalem!

[@TheKiwiGrower]

Hope you do :). You're welcome

[@user-yh7fn7id1z]

Wonderful, restful and engaging video - well done you are making a real contribution with these

[@monocaliste]

Thank you for the video ! Very cool to see all the process from the seed to the kitchen

[@Flowersaroundme]

Amazing bro❤

[@genkestrel7254]

Yay!

[@AmneziaAztec]

beautyful guy, beautyful cat, gardening, harvesting, cooking.. love you 🥰 more videos, please 🙃 very interesting and makes me happy)

[@iambored4575]

wow this is amazing thank you!,i love your cat btw

[@OvenBakedCookie]

Thanks for these great videos, mate! :)

[@TheKiwiGrower]

No worries!

[@leanhhao61]

I really like your garden, it looks like a lot of vegetables😜😜