Banana Squash are large, long squash in a banana shape (actually, they are shaped more like a dirigible.)
These are winter squash, with smooth, pale, hard skin, and finely-textured, dense orange flesh inside with a sweet taste.
They are often sold cut up into pieces owing to their size.
They grow on vines that can roam to 20 feet (6 metres) or more, so they are best not tried in apartment window-boxes.
Cooking Tips
Scrape out and discard seeds and fibres inside; peel and discard the skin.
Storage Hints
Stores for up to 1 month uncut in a cool place.
History Notes
The original variety of Banana Squash dates back to the late 1800s. It was bluish-grey, but with light orange stripes. It was introduced into America in 1893.
Circa 1900, a seed company (Aggeler and Musser of Los Angeles) planted the seeds, and from the variations that grew, selected a bluish-grey one with no stripes (now called Blue Banana Squash), a yellow-skinned one, and an orangey-pink one with tan stripes. From these selections have come today’s cultivars.