Our hero, the cushaw, is a winter squash (which, as a loosely defined group, are squash that are allowed to mature on the vine before being harvested, unlike thin-skinned summer squash). It is produced by an annual vine, Cucurbita argyrosperma, sometimes described as C. mixta—a synonym.
Is cushaw squash the same as pumpkin?
The cushaw (etymology unknown) is still not widely cultivated in the U.S. beyond the Southwest, where it is a familiar seasonal crop. Its other common names include sweet potato pumpkin and crookneck pumpkin.
What type of squash is cushaw?
winter squash
The cushaw is a variety of winter squash and is originally from the south of Mexico. It is a large (sometimes up to 20 pounds!) squash with a characteristic green and white striped pattern. It has a mildly sweet taste and behaves like a pumpkin or delicata squash when it is cooked.
Is cushaw squash edible?
Its light yellow flesh is just slightly sweet and very mild-flavored with an agreeable hint of smokiness. This rich flavor goes well with turkey, pheasant and venison. Cushaws are also the favorite pumpkin pie filling throughout the South. The nutritious seeds are toasted then ground into flour or eaten whole.
What is a cushaw vegetable?
Cushaw is a pot-bellied, green or yellow and green striped, crook-necked winter squash that tolerates heat and drought. The vines will sprawl as it grows for 105 days until maturity, so give it plenty of room. The fruits will be 10-20 pounds, 12-18 inches long.
Is canned pumpkin actually squash?
If you’re buying a can of pumpkin off the shelf, you should know that it’s not made from the same orange jack-o’-lantern pumpkins you carve, or even their daintier, sweeter cousins, sugar pumpkins (also known as pie pumpkins). In fact, canned pumpkin is actually squash.
What’s the difference between a squash and a pumpkin?
The main difference between pumpkin and squash is that pumpkin is a fruit of the genus Cucurbita with a hard and jagged stem, while squash is a fruit from the same genus with a less firm and hollow stem.
What does cushaw taste like?
The flesh is light-yellow; it is mild and slightly sweet in flavor; meaty in texture and fibrous. It is sometimes called cushaw pumpkin and is often substituted for the standard, orange, jack-o-lantern pumpkin in pie-making. The cushaw has a green summer squash flavor and scent to it.
How do you know when a cushaw squash is ripe?
Like many winter squashes, it is generally ripe when you cannot puncture it with a fingernail. Other people say to wait until the vine dies and dries out. Once picked, bring the squash inside to a cool, dark area to let it cure. Just as you would a pumpkin, for about a month or so.
How big does a cushaw squash get?
12-18 inches
Cushaw Squash Plant Info
Fruit averages 10-20 pounds (4.5 to 9 kg.), grows to 12-18 inches (30.5 to 45.5 cm) in length and is around 10 inches (30.5 cm.) across. The flesh is light yellow and the flavor is mildly sweet.
Is cushaw a winter or summer squash?
‘Green-Striped Cushaw’ is a hardy winter squash with distinctively green-striped white skin and thick, yellow, mildly sweet flesh good for baking. It produces vigorous, borer-resistant vines; and medium-large, oblong, pear-shaped fruits with crooked necks, weighing 5-15 pounds.
Can you eat green striped cushaw squash?
Also known as “Sweet Potato Pumpkin,” this mildly sweet and meaty squash is made into as pie filling, cushaw butter, puddings, and simply roasted. Many 10-20 pound striped, crook-necked fruits grow on hardy, heat-tolerant, and borer-resistant vines.
Can you freeze cushaw squash raw?
I found an easy way to cut and store these cushaw (or any other winter squash) and they can be put in a freezer bag and frozen. I’ve found that it isn’t even necessary to pre-freeze on a baking sheet to keep them from sticking together.
What is blue hubbard squash?
Hubbard squash is a large winter squash, typically about 1 foot wide and 15 to 20 pounds in weight. It has very bumpy skin that comes in different colors: dark green, pale blue-green, orange or yellow. Inside, the flesh ranges from yellow to orange, like most winter squash.
Can chickens eat birdhouse gourds?
Keep these fall decor items and give them to your flock. They can help combat boredom and promote chicken health year-round. Chickens love eating pumpkins, gourds and squash, so don’t throw out your edible autumn decorations this fall.
Is libbys pumpkin really squash?
Libby’s proudly uses nothing but 100% pumpkin in our Libby’s solid pack pumpkin. We do not use Hubbard squash, or other types of squash.
Why is canned pumpkin not pumpkin?
Instead, most canned pumpkin in the U.S. is made from a type of pumpkin that doesn’t look all that typical. Dickinson pumpkins, also known as Dickinson squash, are the pumpkins used to make the majority of canned pumpkin we eat today.
Is there pumpkin in Libby’s canned pumpkin?
Each bulk can of Libby’s Pumpkin contains only one ingredient – pumpkin. Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin has been a favorite for pumpkin pies, rolls, and baked goods for more than 75 years.
Which squash is closest to pumpkin?
Butternut, buttercup, honeynut and acorn squashes are all suitable substitutes. Each of these types of squash has a similar texture to pumpkin and some natural sweetness. To substitute these squashes for pumpkin, prepare them as you would pumpkin for fresh pumpkin puree: clean, roast, puree in a food processor.
Is butternut a pumpkin or squash?
1) A winter squash, not a pumpkin, butternut pumpkins are related to cucumbers, squash and melons. 2) Root to stem eating – the flesh, skin, seeds and even the flowers on the pumpkin vine can be eaten.
Can you eat pumpkin like squash?
Yes, pumpkins are as edible as any other common winter squash. Some pumpkin varieties are best left to carving because they are more pretty than they are flavorful. Some can be quite watery and tasteless. The same goes for different varieties of winter squash.