Green Striped Cushaw Squash – 30 Seeds is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Be sure to check out our Winter Squash Growing Guide to learn how to successfully grow winter squash at home.
Green Striped Cushaw Squash is an heirloom, open-pollinated winter squash variety with big fruits that can grow as large as 25 lbs. This variety produces white fruits with light green, variegated stripes. The fruits have a bulb at the base, similar to a butternut squash. The neck of the squash will have varying degrees of bend which is typical with an heirloom winter squash variety.
Green Striped Cushaw Squash is widely-adapted, but particularly excels in hot and humid climates. This is a popular variety to grow for fall pumpkin sales, but also has an excellent eating quality. The interior of the fruits reveals a yellow to orange flesh thats great for pies and other baked goods.
Green Striped Cushaw Squash may be direct-seeded or transplanted. If direct-seeding, we recommend placing a seed every 12″ along the intended row. Once plants emerge, thin plants to one every 2 feet. If transplanting, start Seeds in seed starting trays about 4-5 weeks before the intended in-ground planting date. Place transplants every 2 along the row and allow at least 5-6 between rows.
Winter Squash can be susceptible to plant diseases like downy mildew and powdery mildew if leaves receive excess moisture. As a result, we recommend using drip irrigation on winter squash to reduce plant moisture and feed plants more effectively. During periods of heavy rainfall, using a fungicide like Liquid Copper can help to alleviate disease pressure as well.
Winter Squash is a crop that will produce a one-time harvest at the end of the growing season. They should be harvested when plants die back and the fruits obtain their full color. Stem hardness is also an indication of fruit maturity. Once stems harden, fruits are ready for harvest using a set of pruning shears.
Winter Squash can be stored in a cool, dry place for several months, depending on variety and sugar content. Once fruits are harvested, remove the plants from the garden to prevent any fungal spores from overwintering and becoming a problem in future years. Proper crop rotation is extremely important with all pumpkin varieties to reduce disease and pest pressure.
Squash with green and white striped skin have become increasingly popular at farmers markets and groceries over the past few years. Their unique appearance and sweet, nutty flavor make them stand out among the more common yellow and green varieties. But what exactly are these striped squash, and how does one use them in the kitchen? This guide covers everything you need to know about identifying and cooking with squash that are green with white stripes.
What is Squash Green With White Stripes?
The most common striped squash is cushaw squash also known as crookneck squash or sweet potato squash. Cushaw squash is a type of winter squash that can grow quite large between 5 to 25 pounds. It originates from the Americas and has been cultivated for thousands of years.
Other varieties of squash that are green with white stripes include
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Turban squash – Has an odd shape, almost resembling a turban. The skin is green and white striped.
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Bonbon squash – Oblong shape with cream and green or orange stripes.
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Kabocha squash – Round shape similar to a pumpkin with faint white striping on green skin.
All of these varieties have in common a green skin with white mottled striping and ridges. The flesh inside ranges in color from deep yellow to pale orange. They typically have a mild, lightly sweet, and nutty flavor.
Identifying Squash Green With White Stripes
When shopping for striped squash, look for a few key characteristics:
- Hard rind – Skin should not dent when pressed with a finger
- Dry stem – Avoid squash with slimy or moldy stems
- Good weight – Pick up and feel the heft; 5 lbs or more indicates maturity
- Stripes – Green with bold white mottled striping covering 50% or more of the rind
Well-formed stripes indicate the squash was allowed to fully mature on the vine before harvest. Squash with faint stripes may have been picked prematurely.
How to Prepare Squash Green With White Stripes
Preparing striped squash is similar to other winter varieties:
- Cut in half – Use a large chef’s knife to cut the squash lengthwise or into rounds. Scoop out seeds.
- Peel – For cushaw squash, the skin can be cooked and eaten. For other varieties, peel the skin with a vegetable peeler or paring knife.
- Roast – Toss the halves or slices in oil, season, and roast cut-side down at 400°F until tender.
- Boil/steam – You can also boil or steam slices until just fork tender.
The flesh easily separates from the skin when cooked. Be sure to save any seeds for roasting.
Cooking With Squash Green With White Stripes
When cooked, the sweet nutty flavor of striped squash shines. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes:
- Roast and mash flesh into pures for soups, dips, and spreads
- Dice and add to stews, curries, chili
- Bake halves and stuff with grains, meat, veggies as main dishes
- Roast slices and add to salads
- Bake into breads, muffins, cakes, and pies
- Puree and use in smoothies, yogurt bowls, overnight oats
Its adaptable sweetness makes it a versatile ingredient. Kabocha and cushaw squash in particular are ideal replacements for pumpkin in recipes.
Storage and Shelf Life
Like other winter squash, striped varieties store well under the proper conditions:
- Store whole squash in a cool, dry place around 50-60°F
- Avoid humidity and direct sunlight
- Refrigerate cut squash in airtight container for 7-10 days
- Cooked squash keeps 3-4 days refrigerated
- Squash can be frozen for longer term storage
- Properly stored, whole squash keeps 2-3 months
Choose squash without blemishes or soft spots. Check periodically and use once skin appears wrinkly or mold develops. With proper care, squash green with white stripes will grace your kitchen creatively all season long.
So next time you spot an unusual striped squash, bring it home and enjoy its unique appearance and sweet flavor. This guide equips you with tips for identifying, preparing, and cooking squash green with white stripes. Now go savor squash in a whole new way!
Green Striped Cushaw Squash Planting Information
Planting Method: direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1/2″
Seed Spacing: 18-24″
Row Spacing: 5-6
Days to Maturity: 105
Disease Resistance: None Growing Information
Treatment: Untreated
Maple Butter Butternut Squash Spirals
FAQ
What kind of squash is green with white stripes?
Green Striped Cushaw Squash. Green Striped Cushaw Squash is an heirloom variety that can be used for ornamental or eating purposes. Fruits can be anywhere from 7 to 25 lbs. Great for making pies, baked goods and freezing for later.
What is cushaw squash good for?
Cushaws contain high levels of a wide array of vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, & C, folate, carotene, potassium, calcium, and iron.
Is kabocha squash the same as butternut squash?
Kabocha is a Japanese variety of winter squash that has flesh that is similar in color to butternut squash. However, kabocha is sweeter than butternut squash and its flesh is firmer and less watery.
Are cushaw squash seeds edible?
To enjoy cushaw seeds as a healthy snack, rinse and clean them well before cooking in salted water for 10 minutes. Drain them and toss with oil and seasoning before roasting in a warm (325 degrees Fahrenheit) oven for 30 minutes.
What is a green striped Cushaw squash?
Other cushaw varieties may have solid green, white or striped rinds but the green and white is the most common among the cushion species. The origins of the green striped cushaw squash can be traced back to Native American tribes who grew and consumed them as far back as 5500 B.C.
What does a white squash look like?
Big, white fruit with small, green stripes. Oblong shape with crooked necks and bulbous bottoms. The large vines are vigorous and are good for the south. A Native American squash that has an ancient history. Great for fall pumpkin sales.
What is a striped squash?
Cucurbita pepo (Vegetable Marrow Group). Winter squash. This hybrid crosses two types of squash – Spaghetti Squash and Delicata – for sweet and nutty spaghetti-squash-like strands in a beautifully striped exterior. Medium in size, Stripetti weighs in at 4-5 pounds. Stripetti is a newer hybrid squash, developed around 2010 in Colorado.
What is a blue green squash?
This heirloom blue-green squash originated in the mid-1900s in Portland, Oregon. Weighing in at 10-20 pounds, this one’s a big squash – good thing, because it’s great eating, too. The deep yellow flesh is sweet, dry, and fine, similar to a sweet potato. This type of winter squash is said to make some of the best pumpkin pie around!
What does a green egg squash look like?
Also known as the Eggplant Squash, the green egg squash looks very much like the middle-ground between a zucchini and an 8-ball squash (round zucchini). They aren’t quite round, but they aren’t long like the common zucchini. They typically grow to about 5” long, and are most often used for grilling.
What oblong squash is green in color?
Cucurbita maxima (Turban group). If you have a massive squash that’s green in color, it might be a Naples Long Squash! These oblong squash, shaped sort of like a lumpy green traffic cone, weigh from 20 to 50 pounds. The color is a deep, rich green.