I have had so many people asking me about these ancient seeds that I acquired in October! People from all around the world have asked for a seed or two. I will be glad to share my seeds but first I have to plant them, and hopefully have an abundant harvest! My goal is to have enough seeds to have my own supply and then enough to pass along to others. Hopefully everyone whom I share seeds with will do the same. As you may remember these are very special seeds not available commercially yet.
You may want to know how to grow the Gete okosomin? Like any other winter squash these seeds should be fairly easy to grow and yield an abundant harvest. They do require plenty of room as the vines can get quite long. If you don’t have room choose another type of winter squash that is a bush variety.
Depending on where you live you can either start the seeds indoors or plant directly into the soil. Since I live in an area that has a short growing season I will be starting my seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before I plan to move them outside. The seeds will not germinate in cold soil; they prefer the temperature of the soil to be 60 degrees F or warmer. The young plants will not be planted outside until all danger of frost is past. Squash like warm soil and are very sensitive to frost, so they will be put in the ground two weeks after the last frost date.
Since I have a limited number of seeds I plan to take the best care of the seeds I do have to insure that I get a harvest. Once the plants are in the ground they will be mulched. Mulching the plants helps to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Mounding soil around the base of the plants can also discourage squash borers from laying eggs.
Other pests to watch for are squash bugs which will need to be hand picked off the plants, squash vine borers, which are also removed by hand, and striped cucumber beetles. I may resort to using row covers over the young plants. The row covers will then be removed before the plants flower.
Winter squash prefer full sun and well-drained fertile soil. The plants will be well watered from the time they are put in the ground until the fruits begin to fill out. The squash will be ready for harvest when you cannot easily pierce the rind with your fingernail. Never rush to harvest the winter squash because immature fruits won’t store well. Allow the fruits to ripen until the vines begin to die back. I should be able to harvest 3-5 squash per plant. 
If you harvest your winter squash after the fruits have fully matured, saving seeds is simply a matter of rinsing, drying and storing the biggest, plumpest seeds that come across your cutting board.
Hopefully I will have an abundant harvest of the Gete okosomin so that I will have enough seeds to share with everyone that has asked for them!
Nancy on the Home Front 
Fantastic Nancy , great photos ! Did you get to taste it ? What was it like ? I hope they grow well for you ….and ..please dont forget me on the waiting list ! : ) Daisy Debs x
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Daisy,
I did get to taste the squash in October, it is not a very sweet squash but so tasty!
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..and so here we are a year on and Nancy very generously has sent me four of her harvested seeds .
The story of the Gete -okosomin squash has changed a little bit ,but it is good to be part of the story and I look forward to sharing out my harvested seeds ….( I,m in the U.K.)…if I am successful…at the end of the year . Here’s to new friendships , sharing knowledge and seeds ….and learning how to care for the good earth of our planet .
” If we build a society based on honouring the earth , we build a society which is sustainable and has the capacity to support all life forms ” Winona LaDuke .
It was Winona LaDuke who gave the Gete-Okosomin it’s name .
Thankyou Nancy for sending me your seeds . I have been preparing a new Pumpkin bed specially for them.
I would love to hear how others get on with growing the Gete-okosomin !
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Dasiy,
I can’t wait to hear how your seeds do!
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Hi,
It looks the seed is grow well in your garden. At this time of year year the plant looks so beautiful then to look at brown grass in my garden. I pray that you are successful in your mission and God gives plenty of seeds to share with all your friends who love your webpage.
almas.
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Almas,
I do hope the seeds grow well and produce an abundant harvest! I need plenty of seeds to give away! 🙂
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Best of luck with your seeds! You are very lucky to have them.
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Barb, I am going to treat them very well! Want to make sure they grow well!
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I am so interested in what you are doing, growing Gege Okosomin squash, and wish you the greatest success. I do hope you will send me a few seeds. My plan is to share my successful seeds with the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank. Although there is no way to prove the Cherokees used Gege Okosomin, Cherokees are an Iriquoian Nation, and the ancestors may have had contact with those who grew this squash. Since the Cherokee Nation has an actual seed bank, I am confident they will see this as a true cultural treasure.
By the way, the Cherokee word for squash is s-qua-si – most like the origin of the English word.
I appreciate you, your website,band especially what you are doing with this American original.
Sincerely,
Pat Teague
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Pat,
Your name is on my list and I loved learning the Cherokee word for squash! Stay tuned as I will be posting updates on the seeds!
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That is such an interesting-looking squash. Good luck with this year’s crop.
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Hey Nancy,
I have been following the posts on gete okosomin squash. Very interested in getting dome seeds. I love planting a garden every year and I have a perfect place for them. Hopefully you get enough seeds!
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Jason, I am hopeful for a successful crop!
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Nancy – thanks for the very interesting information. I hope you have an abundant harvest!
Tom
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Tom, You’re welcome! I hope I have an abundant harvest! 🙂
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Great information! What a wonderful old world squash! Wishing you all the best with this endeavor and a bountiful harvest!
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I would love to have a couple of seeds.
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Curtis,
I will add your name to the list, probably next year’s harvest!
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What do they taste like?
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The Gete okosomin squash have a wonderful nutty flavor.
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Hi Nancy!
Are you still sharing gete okosomin seeds? If so, I would love a few. Thank you!
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Edith,
I have sent yo an email.
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I’ll be starting the ones Nancy very generously shared with me soon . Hopefully I will have some seeds to share after Harvest . Daisy Debs 🙂
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Daisy,
I can’t wait to hear how they do!
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Hi wondering if I may please get some seeds from you? Please contact me – I subscribed to you 🙂 thank you ! Dawn mcneely
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I have some gete okosomin growing in my yard. Actually, there are a LOT of them. I’m wondering how you know when they are ready to be harvested? Is it by color or size? Right now they are about 12-18 inches long and they have gone from their original bright yellow to a golden / light orangy color.
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Ann,
It sounds like you have a great crop this year. Try to leave the squash on the vine as long as possible. The foliage should actually start to die back. The stems should be hard and brown and starting to crack as well. If it looks like you’re going to have a frost pick your squash. If you thump the side of the squash it should also have a hallow sound. Good luck!
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Mine is also growing away strongly now and the flowers are coming , just fingers crossed that they set , I am hand pollinating them ,,I will be so excited when I can see the fruits swelling 🙂 x
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Daisy,
Thanks for the update!! You’ll have to send me a picture when you have some fruit forming!! Keep up the good work! 🙂
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Will do Nancy .Hand pollinated a couple more flowers today ,here in Cornwall U.K and tied them up to stop the bees going in . I haven’t grown any other squash , cucumbers or courgettes /zucchinis to keep them pure . It’ll be so nice to keep the seed sharing going .
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Daisy,
I love hearing your updates! You are taking the best care of your plants!
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🙂 x
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Hi there, Are you sharing your seeds? I would like to get some if possible and continue with this beautiful heritage.
It will be very appreciated
Thank you
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Rocio,
I am not growing the Gete okosomin squash this year so I will not have any seeds to share. Maybe next year!
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Hi, I would like to get geos okosomin seeds. Where can I get them from Spain?
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Nadia,
Currently I do not have any seeds, perhaps one of my readers can help you?
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I realize this post is several years old, but are you still growing this enough to share 6 seeds? I’m an heirloom tomato /pepper grower in Indiana and would like to incorporate into a large garden this summer. The only squash similar I grow is long pie pumpkin. Please let me know if you can. Thanks in advance!
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Teri and Steve,
Stay tuned, my seeds are currently packed as we recently made a cross country move. Not sure if I will have a garden this year but hopefully I’ll be growing these next year!
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