I'm hoping someone here can give me a little advice on the best time to plant Green Striped Cushaw. I've never grown any squash or pumpkins before. I'm planning to plant it in a straw bale--will that work? I'm in zone 6b. Any info you can give me on them would be great! Also, are they prone to stem borers? If so, is there anything that can be done to reduce the chance of stem borers getting it?
My Mom always makes her pumpkin pies from these so I thought this year I would try growning them myself instead of buying them from the local farmer's market. Any advice or suggestions welcome. I have never grown any veggies before except for tomatoes although I do a lot of flower gardening. So I know I have a lot to learn. TIA for any help.
Kim
When to plant Green Striped Cushaw? in straw bale?
In your area you could plant the Cushaw from up to about the middle of June. We use to plant them in the cornfield when we did the last cultivation. They are resistant to vine borers, though less than the butternut types. I don't know about the straw bales, if you can supply water and nutrients it should work, but I have never tried it, being a plain dirt grower. Note that they will run 8-10 feet in all directions, so be sure to allocate space.
I had to check out this post, because I have aspirations of putting my green striped cushaw in the garden this year as well. We're gardening in what is now sandy, but will be supplemented with rich garden soil and rice hulls w/chicken poop.
We live in the Houston area, so I'm not sure when I should plant them. Hope and pray they'll grow here.
Any thoughts anyone?
TIA
ccummings / cajun2
Ca jun 2. I don't know your area, Here the Cushaws do well planted as late the first of July. major problem with late planting is the pickleworm which does a number on the developing fruit.
Question for you. Willhite used to sell a Spotted Watson or Cletex watermelon, which was grown in the Cleveland Texas area. I can no longer find seed. Any chance you run across one of these?
I'll definitely see what I can find for you. We're always on the 'hunt' for good and unusual seed :-))
BTW, what is "Willhite"? Is it a feed store? Garden center? Catalog?
This message was edited Jun 5, 2007 9:43 PM