VegetableSquash
Cushaw White Squash
Cushaw White Squash is a traditional heirloom winter squash with pale, almost white skin and sweet, softly orange flesh that thrives across hardiness zones 3 through 13. This vigorous, spreading variety matures in 100 to 109 days and produces large fruits that store exceptionally well, making it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking both abundance and longevity in the cellar. The vines grow with remarkable vigor, and the plant demonstrates better resistance to squash vine borers than most other winter squashes, a significant advantage for organic growers.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Organic Matter-rich
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
TypeSpreading
Spacing
48
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The defining trait of Cushaw White Squash is its exceptional tolerance for squash vine borers, a pest that devastates many winter squash varieties. The pale skin and vivid orange flesh create a striking visual contrast, while the sweet flavor and excellent storage potential mean your harvest will feed your family well into winter. Open-pollinated and entirely non-GMO, this heirloom produces abundantly in containers, raised beds, and traditional garden plots, making it adaptable to nearly any growing situation.
Common Uses
As a winter squash, Cushaw White is roasted, baked, and pureed for soups and pies. The sweet, tender orange flesh can be stuffed, mashed with butter and spices, or added to savory dishes where its mild sweetness complements other vegetables and proteins. The large fruits from a single vine provide substantial servings, making it practical for families who preserve their harvest through canning, freezing, or root cellar storage.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Plant seeds in hills or mounds spaced 48 inches apart, with 144 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Harvest Cushaw White Squash when the skin has fully hardened and turned pale white, typically 100 to 109 days after planting. The fruit should feel solid when pressed and the stem should begin to dry and harden. Cut fruits from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached, and allow them to cure in a warm, dry location for 10 to 14 days before storage.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita argyrosperma
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Growth Habit
Spreading
History & Origin
“Cushaw White is a traditional heirloom winter squash with roots in American agricultural heritage. As an open-pollinated variety, it has been preserved and passed hand-to-hand among gardeners for generations, each season's saved seed carrying forward the traits that made it valuable to farm families. The variety's vigor and productivity made it a reliable staple, and its resistance to squash vine borers gave it practical advantage over newer cultivars in regions where that pest pressure was severe. Today it survives in seed catalogs and home gardens as a living link to earlier gardening traditions.”