Mandan Banquet Squash

Mandan Banquet Squash (C. maxima)  North Dakota Seedsman Oscar H. Will and his sons (c. 1917) worked with the Mandan and Arikara tribes of the region to learn about crossbreeds of corn for their seed business. The Will's also developed the Mandan Banquet squash (aka Will's Banquet) by crossing Buttercup and Gilmore Squash.  Gilmore Squash was the result of a cross between the Winnebago and Arikara Squash. The resulting Mandan Banquet Squash were deep orange in colour with a distinct cup on the bottom much like the Buttercup species. Mandan Banquet is fairly early winter squash and has very good baking qualities. 

87 days to maturity

20 seeds per packet 

Planting Instructions: Seed indoors 1/2 inch deep. Line out transplants after risk of frost has past, spacing 5-6 feet apart. Direct seed in raised hills sowing 5-6 seeds 1/2 inch deep. Soil temperature should be at least 21 degrees C. Space mounds 5-6 feet apart, thinning to 3 plants per mound.