- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 52–60 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Summer Squash (Learn more)
Native: North America
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 2'–3' tall and 3'–4' wide
Variety Info: Best harvested under 12". Light gray-green fruits with lighter stripes and distinct ribbing. Good producer of male blossoms for cooking.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–85°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ½"–1"
Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 3'–4'
Thinning: When 3 leaves, thin to 1 plant per mound
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Harvest frequently to increase yield; squash seem to get monstrous overnight. While edible at almost any size, seeds are less developed in young fruit, therefore more tender. Using a knife or clippers, cut squash off including some of the stem. By including stem, the fruit is sealed and less likely to mold or dry out. Harvesting Blossoms: Look for male, non-fruit producing flowers that have long stems and harvest just before use (female flowers have a swollen mini-squash at the base of the flower and are on shorter stems).
- Rob S.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/6/25Great Squash, Really great company!!
Maybe 6 weeks ago I reached out to Customer Service at Botanical Interests looking for help in selecting a zuchinni variety that produced large flowers. I like zuchinni as much as the next person, but stuffed and fried squash blossoms are one of my all time favorite foods. One I've never had outside of Italy.
Wendy recommended Costata Romanesco and boy am I glad she did!
By the time the seeds arrived I already had a bed prepared for them. The went into the ground right away and 2 days later 11 of the 12 had germinated! I'd be pleased with a 90+ germination rate any time, but two days later the 12th emerged.
Now, maybe 3 weeks later, I have 12 healthy plants, but have already harvested a surprising 25 or so of the largest squash blossoms I've ever seen! There are at least 25 more about to pop and new flower buds appear daily.
I've been experimenting with different fillings, never having made this before, and all of which were great. Of course some are better than others. I'm still trying other ingredients and expect to continue doing so.
Just today I spied our first female flower with a baby squash attached. I'm expecting many of those as well.
All in I couldn't be more thrilled with both the seeds and Bontanicals Customer Service - Wendy in particular. Just a really great experience, and I've ordered many other items - including 20 or more seed garlic cloves.
If you're interested, please check out the pics I've attached below. This has been the most fun I've ever had…
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests9/9/25Hey Rob,
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us. Your input is very important and truly helps us improve our processes so we can provide the best possible experience for our customers. This has been so much fun watching this adventure with you and hearing how much fun you're having! Keep up the good work!
Keep on growing 🌻️
Wendi
Customer Service
Epic Gardening/Botanical Interests - AliciaVerified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars8/25/25Nearly ZERO vegetables.
14to 1 male flowers. RIDICULOUS
The greenery strong HOWEVER it corkscrewed & refused to lay flat.
Last year I was unable to get B.I. seeds & bought a lesser known brand...AND HAD THE SAME ISSUES.
Makes me wonder if they're merely purchasing seeds elsewhere.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests8/26/25Hey Alicia
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- Jordan W.Rated 5 out of 5 stars3/3/255 Stars
Ahhahah
- David ..Rated 5 out of 5 stars7/28/245 Stars
After a couple of seasons this is the only zucchini type squash I grow almost every year. The flavor is better than the other store bought or home grown zucchinis I've tried, but the best part is the male flowers. They are huge, as flavorful as smaller varieties, and so easy to stuff with feta or soft goat cheese (melty cheeses like mozzarella will just leak out into the hot oil). Dip into a simple tempura batter (flour and very cold plain or fizzy water) and deep fry.
- lizVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars5/9/225 Stars
I discovered Romanesco zucchini in an Italian market, in Italy, they are the most expensive due to their popularity. That was my motive to grow them. I love the flavor, and I picked them young, I didn't let them get bigger than 6-7 inches. The flowers were good as well. I had to hand pollinate them, but it was worth it. Unfortunately my squash bugs love them too. Some say to delay the planting, as these bugs have 1 generation, and to use Diamatious earth close to the main stem. The fight is worth it. Thanks B.I. for keeping these different varieties going!