Squash Winter, Gete Okosomin or Kentucky

105-115 days. Gete Okosomin earned fame as the “800 year-old squash,” with a story that the seeds had been found in a buried clay ball in Wisconsin. In fact, this banana type Native American variety has been stewarded by the people of the Miami Nation for countless generations. Its name translates to “cool old squash” in the Anishinaabe language. The history of the origin of the seeds had been miscommunicated. In reality the seeds for this delicious, sweet-fleshed squash were lovingly saved and passed down within the Miami Nation of Indiana. This extra large, thin-skinned squash is top notch for a range of recipes. The magnificent fruit runs about 2-3 feet long and weighs up to 18 pounds. The color is a rich, bright orange, with lighter orange striping running the length of the banana-shaped fruit. The surface is mildly bumpy; the overall appearance is amazingly beautiful. Gete Okosomin also proves to be delicious--sweet, with hints of melon, and possessing a wonderful smooth texture. We thank Roger Smith for bringing this squash to our attention.

• Full Sun
• Sprouts in 5-10 Days
• Ideal Temperature: 70-95 Degrees F
• Seed Depth: 1/2-1 inch
• Plant Spacing: 18-36"
• Frost Hardy: No
• Cucurbita maxima

Growing Tips: Direct seed, or set out transplants after last frost date. Don’t let transplants become rootbound; don't disturb roots while transplanting. Needs rich soil. Harvest when rinds become very hard.