How to Grow Cushaw Squash

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Cushaws, or kershaws, are heirloom squash that grow to phenomenal sizes. It is not uncommon for well watered cushaws to grow to more than 30 lbs. Like their cousins, the pumpkin, cushaws can be served in a variety of ways, from stuffed to pies to cookies. They have a taste similar, but a tad sweeter, than pumpkin. Cushaws are known as terrific winter keepers, and it is not unusual for them to keep until the next harvest. Growing cushaws is as simple as growing any squash, and like all squashes need a lot of room in your garden. Plan on 3 – 4 cushaws per plant.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Cushaw seed
A well drained but moist garden space
Peat pots and potting soil

Step1

Locate cushaw seeds for planting. R.H. Shumway’s offers seeds, as do several other heirloom seed companies (see Resources below).

Step2

Start the seeds in peat pots with good potting soil for the healthiest plants.

Step3

Transplant the established plants when they are 4- to 6-inches tall and have their secondary leaves.

Step4

Plant the cushaw plants in the garden 18 inches apart with at least 3 feet between rows. If the space isn’t a moist area, plant in mounds so the plant can capture rain and manual watering.

Tips & Warnings

Most families do not need more than 2 or 3 plants to provide them with a year's worth of cushaws.
Cushaws can be planted directly in the garden. Either rows or mounds spaced 18 inches apart can be used. Plant 2 to 3 seeds together and thin the weakest plants.
Cushaws can be cooked like any other winter squash. They make a wonderful, full flavored pie that needs little extra sugar to make the pie delicious.
To store cushaws over the winter, place the squashes in a cool, dark place where they do not touch each other. Turn monthly and check for any sign of spoilage. Normally, they will keep up to 1 year.