This heavy yielding pumpkin, Cushaw Green Striped, is a great winter keeper! Cream colored fruits are long necked and striped with green. This Native American heirloom squash, whose common name of "Cushaw" comes from the Algonquin word coscushaw, has also been marketed as the Tennessee Sweet Potato because of its sweetness.
New York seed man Grant Thorburn called it the Green Striped Bell in his 1847 catalog, and it was also sold beginning in 1883 by W. Atlee Burpee Co. Since Cushaw Green Striped resists squash vine borers, commercial farmers in the southern region rely on this variety for a good fall crop. Many Southern gardeners also prefer this variety for pies because of its superior taste. 110 days.
~ planting ~
Gardeners with short growing seasons may want to start their pumpkin seeds indoors a month before the last expected frost. Since pumpkins do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Harden the seedlings by exposing them to the weather for several hours at a time during the week before transplanting. About a week after the last frost or when the soil temperature reaches an average of 60 degrees F, plant the seedlings in very rich soil 8-10' apart in rows 10-12' apart. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10' apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds a week after frost 1/2" deep, 3-4' apart and thin to 8-10' apart. For companion planting benefits, plant pumpkins along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
~ growing ~
Since pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist at all times, but avoid getting the leaves wet as this can cause diseases such as rot or mildew. When the vines begin to develop, a layer of mulch will help conserve moisture and control weeds; mulch also will keep the pumpkins clean and protect them from too much soil contact. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plant's energy on the developing pumpkins. Green Striped Cushaw has good resistance to squash borers.
~ harvesting ~
Pumpkins can be harvested as soon as the stem begins to dry and the skin becomes too hard to pierce with a fingernail. Because cold weather can damage pumpkins, they should be harvested before the first frost. Cut the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-3" length." Do not carry the pumpkin by the stem; if the stem breaks off, use it as soon as possible, since this causes the pumpkin to deteriorate quickly. Cure the pumpkins in the sun or a dry location until the stem shrivels; do not wash pumpkins you intend to store. Cushaw Green Striped pumpkins store well, and make an excellent choice for baking or pies.
