I will be offering some C. argyrosperma seeds grown at my farm, and some grown nearby, to Going to Seed for consideration.
Between the time I planted argyrosperma in 2023 and when I planted for 2024, I discovered that there are argyro varieties that keep much longer and have sweeter flesh than the ones I’d been growing, which are better as summer squash. Commercial seeds sold simply as ‘Green Striped Cushaw’ or ‘White Cushaw’ could be either a summer or winter type.
I’ve been reading a lot of cushaw seed catalog descriptions. Sometimes you will see clues that a cushaw is probably not a winter squash type like “not a good keeper” or “use by Thanksgiving”. There are some other terms that are not definitive, like “light colored flesh/mild flesh/nutty flesh”.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange does something helpful that few cushaw seed vendors do, they specify that their green striped type is: “Not a good keeper. Whitish-green skin with mottled green stripes. Thick, light yellow flesh is slightly sweet and medium-coarse.”
Southern Exposure also offers a white cushaw which does seem to be a winter type: “[Grown in s. Illinois since at least the 1830s, including by friends of Abraham Lincoln’s parents.] Long white 15-30 lb. fruits with large curved necks and some green mottled striping. Light yellow flesh has mild, pleasant flavor. Earlier and better keeping than Green-Striped Cushaw.”
I’ve been reading that there are varieties which are mainly valued for their seeds. Campeche is one. “Thick Margin Silver Seed” and “Silver Seed” are two offered by Sandhill Preservation Center in the seed type.
Last week I decided to contribute my summer squash cushaw type seeds to the Serendipity Seed Swap! because I had the opportunity and I knew I wasn’t planning to send summer types to Going to Seed.
I wonder if anyone else growing C. argyrosperma cushaw and thinking of contributing cushaw seeds this year has any thoughts on the different uses of different varieties. The two fruits I had from the best winter squash type of 2023 was still in good condition when I opened them up in April 2024.