Squash, Pink Banana (Cucurbita maxima) - 20 Seeds

•Heirloom
•Non-GMO
•American grown seeds
•Open Pollinated
•USDA Zones 3-12

Description:
The Pink Banana squash is a great winter keeper. This popular jumbo squash can reach 48" in length and weigh up to 70 pounds. It is used for both canning and baking and is not stringy when picked when less than 30" long. The thin, brittle skin turns pink-orange at maturity around 110 days.

Medicinal Properties:
Squash contains many nutrients including folic acid, potassium, Vitamin A and beta carotene. This variety of squash is low in calories at 42 calories per cup.

Growing Instructions:
Gardeners with short growing seasons may want to start their squash seeds indoors a month before the last expected frost. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant 2 seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Harden the seedlings by exposing them to weather for several hours a day for a week before transplanting them after the last frost once soil temps average above 60°F. Plant in very rich soil, 8-10 inches apart.

To direct sow, plant the seeds a week or so after the last frost ½” deep, 3-4” apart and thin to 8-10” apart. Avoid planting them with potatoes. Keep moist, but avoid soaking the leaves as this can lead to rot or mildew. When vines develop, adding a layer of much can be very beneficial. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plant’s energy on the developing squashes. Seedlings don’t tolerate frost well, so provide protective covering if cold weather threatens.