Turban squash

{{Short description|Heirloom squash}}

{{Infobox cultivar

| name = Cucurbita maxima
'Turban'

| image = Mini red turban pumpkin.jpg

| image_caption = Turban squash (variety Mini red turban)

| species = Cucurbita maxima

| cultivar = Turban, Mini red turban

| origin = Northeastern United States{{cite web|last=Andersen|first=Craig|title=Summer Squash|url=http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-6019.pdf|work=Home Gardening Series|publisher=University of Arkansas Agricultural Extension|accessdate=16 May 2013}}

}}

Turban squash, also known as "Turk's turban" or "French turban" ("Giraumon" in French), is a type of squash most often used as a winter squash. It is an heirloom, predating 1820.{{cite book|last=Schrager|first=Victor|title=The Compleat Squash|year=2004|publisher=Artisan Books|page=61|isbn=9781579652517|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yzPyDsVBmGcC&q=turban+squash&pg=PA61}} A cultivar of Cucurbita maxima, it is closely related to the buttercup squash.{{cite web|last=Stradley|first=Linda|title=Types of winter squash - The most popular winter squash varieties available|url=http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm|publisher=What's Cooking America|accessdate=15 May 2013}} It is typically 6 pounds when mature.{{r|TCS}} Colors vary, but are often mottled in shades of orange, red, white and green.{{r|WCA}} The squash is used as both a vegetable and as an ornamental gourd.{{cite news|last=Sharrard|first=Jesse|title=Super winter squash is not as tough as it seems.|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sectionfront/life/super-winter-squash-is-not-as-tough-as-it-seems-457498/#ixzz2TPJIbI7E|accessdate=15 May 2013|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=2 November 2006}}{{cite book|last=Wyman|first=Donald|title=Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia|year=1986|publisher=Scribner|page=277|isbn=9780026320702|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XSExQDJtQ7AC&q=turban+squash&pg=PA277}} Taste is similar to other C. maxima cultivars, though "not as vibrant,"{{r|PPG}} "reminiscent to hazelnut,"{{r|WCA}} and "coarse, watery and insipid."{{r|SHTGT}} Known in the nineteenth century as "the most beautiful in color, and the most worthless in quality, of all the varieties of squash;"{{cite book |last=Gregory |first=James J. H. |author-link=James J. H. Gregory |url=https://archive.org/details/squasheshowtogro00greg |title=Squashes: How to Grow Them |publisher=James J. H. Gregory |year=1893 |location=Marblehead, Mass. |page=[https://archive.org/details/squasheshowtogro00greg/page/48 48] |quote=french turban.}} More recently, Ian Knauer, author of "The Farm", has described it as "nutty and sweet".[http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/01/13/roasted-turks-turban-squash Meatless Mondays: Roasted Turk’s Turban Squash and Onions With Tahini Dressing]

There are two varieties or cultivars:

• Turk's turban: a medium-sized tricolor gourd with red cap and red, green and white turban.
• Mini red turban: a small-sized bicolor gourd with red cap and white turban (sometimes with narrow red stripes).