Cushaw Pumpkin, Winter Squash 'Green Striped Cushaw'

The Green Striped Cushaw resists the Squash Vine Borer, I can see where the borers have drilled into the vine but the vine doesn't die li...Read Moreke most other squash, it just keeps on growing and putting on squash of varied sizes. It doesn't run as far or fast as Rumbo squash but they will go 15' or more and put on 8 to 10 squash per vine.

A friend gave me two green striped cushaw squash. They are similar to what my Grandmother raised in her garden and called "Japanese Sweet...Read More Potatoes" (although they're definitely NOT a sweet potato!). I had a handed-down recipe for a "Japanese Sweet Potato Pudding" which I remember as absolutely delicious. It's kinda like a sweet potato pie without the crust although it has crushed pineapple, coconut and, I added, raisins. FANTASTIC!! The squash my Grandmother raised was dark green with orange markings, about a 8" dia bulb portion and a long, slightly curved, 4" dia neck, giving it an overall length of about 20" - 24". In addition to making the pudding, she sliced the neck into 1/2" thick 'rounds', floured and fried them. These fried slices were always served with sprinkled sugar. WOW!! I sure would like to find some seeds for these old-time squash! Does anyone know/remember this variety??

This year, a hot and wet one, was my first time growing cushaws. I don't have a benchmark other than the tan cheese pumpkins and ice cre...Read Moream canteloupes that didn't produce, but I would say these have been extremely productive. As far as the taste, although they are supposed to be aged first, we snuck one anyway and quickly made a pie with it using a modified recipe we found online - it was beyond superb - something like a cross between pumpkin and creme brulee I think. For other reference points, I've had no problems with the SVBs that shred my regular zucchinni. All the other squash bugs are present too, but don't appear to have impacted the cushaws. Powdery mildew occured but was controlled with Serenade. The only fertilizer added this year was composted chicken manure. As far as space requirements, it's late Aug. and the vines are 40-50' long and still going.

My grandfather grew this cushaw in southeast Texas, along the Texas , La. gulf coast back in the 1960's. He would make pies from it. They...Read More were delicious. I now have seeds from it, which I will grow starting this month. Will let ya'll know how they come out.