Costata Romanesco is a summer squash with deep Italian roots, prized for its distinctive ribbed, elongated fruit and tender, delicate flavor. This heat-loving variety grows vigorously in zones 3 through 11, reaching 24 to 36 inches tall and producing harvest-ready squash in just 52 to 60 days. Direct sow after your last frost when soil warms to 70 to 85 degrees, and you'll have tender, flavorful squash within two months.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
36in H x ?in W
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High
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The ribbed, pale green fruits are unmistakably elegant, with a texture and flavor that feels more refined than typical summer squash. Costata Romanesco thrives in full sun and moderate water conditions, making it refreshingly low-maintenance for gardeners who want impressive results without fussing. Its quick 52 to 60 day turnaround means you can sow in succession and harvest continuously through the season.
Costata Romanesco is a culinary favorite, especially valued for raw applications where its tender flesh and mild flavor shine in salads and crudités. It also roasts beautifully, grills with minimal char, and works wonderfully sliced thin for pasta dishes or summer stir-fries where you want the squash to remain the star rather than disappear into the background.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Starting indoors is not recommended except in very short growing seasons. If you choose to start indoors, sow 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting in biodegradable pots, since squash roots are extremely sensitive to disturbance and transplant shock. Keep seedlings in warm conditions until ready to move to the garden.
Transplant when soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Handle seedlings gently to minimize root damage, and plant the entire biodegradable pot directly into the ground to avoid exposing the roots.
Direct sowing is the recommended approach. Sow 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature reaches 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This timing ensures steady, vigorous germination and eliminates transplant stress entirely.
Harvest Costata Romanesco when fruit reaches tender, young maturity at 52 to 60 days after sowing. Pick squash while the skin is still thin and yields slightly to pressure, before it becomes tough and overgrown. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the fruit from the vine cleanly, leaving a short stem attached. Harvesting regularly encourages the plant to continue flowering and producing new fruit throughout the season.
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