VegetableSquash
Cushaw Green Striped Squash
Cushaw Green Striped Squash is a venerable heirloom winter squash with roots stretching back at least 130 years, possibly originating even earlier as a native variety of the West Indies. It produces distinctive oblong, pear-shaped fruits with a characteristic crookneck that makes it instantly recognizable in the garden. This open-pollinated, non-GMO cultivar thrives across hardiness zones 3 through 13 and reaches maturity in 100 to 109 days, rewarding patient gardeners with substantial harvests of flavorful winter squash.
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
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 curved, pear-shaped form of Cushaw Green Striped Squash sets it apart instantly, with fruits that sometimes develop a dramatic crookneck reminiscent of traditional gourds. Known by several colorful aliases, Green Striped Cushaw Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Pumpkin, and Improved Cushaw, this ancient heirloom carries centuries of gardening tradition in a single seed. Growing to 24 to 30 inches with a sprawling 48-inch spacing requirement, it demands room but rewards space generously with long-keeping winter squash perfect for storage.
Common Uses
As a winter squash, Cushaw Green Striped is harvested at full maturity for storage and use throughout the cold months. The flesh works beautifully in soups, roasted preparations, and traditional winter squash dishes where its notably sweet character shines. Many gardeners prize it for long-term storage, making it a staple for those seeking to preserve the harvest through winter.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed thoroughly. Plant seeds in mounds or hills, spacing plants 48 inches apart in all directions to accommodate their sprawling growth habit.
Harvesting
Harvest Cushaw Green Striped Squash when fruits reach full maturity, typically 100 to 109 days after planting. Look for fruits that have developed their characteristic green striping and feel hard when pressed with a fingernail. Cut fruits from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached to help prevent rot during storage. Harvest before the first hard frost to avoid frost damage to the fruits.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita argyrosperma
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
History & Origin
“Cushaw Green Striped Squash carries one of gardening's longest memories. This variety has been documented in cultivation for at least 130 years, though its true origins likely reach much further back as a native squash of the West Indies. The path from indigenous West Indian agriculture to widespread North American heirloom gardens speaks to centuries of seed saving by home gardeners who recognized and preserved its exceptional qualities. By the time seed catalogs began documenting it extensively, the variety had already become woven into the fabric of American gardening heritage, passed hand to hand through families and communities who valued its productivity and keeping quality.”