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Squash, Butternut

Bush Type Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash is most commonly grown using the vining varieties which can take up to 100 square feet of garden. It is difficult to trellis Butternut Squash. Therefore this file deals with growing bush type Butternut Squash which may take up 10 square feet of your garden.

Butternut Squash Varieties

Seeds of Change S10673 Certified Organic Butternut Winter Squash, 25 Seed Count

by Seeds of Change

100-Percent certified organic seeds grown in the USA for over 20-year
Free of GMO's (genetically modified organisms), chemicals and pesticides
Hermetically sealed package that is re-sealable gives longer life and higher germination rates
Independently tested for high germination rates and purity and meets or exceeds federal standards

Butternut Tender Annual 4-5-pound. (100-110-day) Productive Waltham strain yielding classic tan, bell-shaped fruits with bright orange, moist, sweet, smooth flesh. Delicious in soups, baked, or steamed. Stores well into late winter. Planting Depth: 1/2-1-inch, Soil Temperature for Germination: 70-85-Degree F, day to Germination: 3-8 Avg. Spacing: 2 seeds/foot in rows 5-6-foot apart Avg. Seeding Rate: 2-4-pound./acre-day to Maturity: 100-110 Full Sun Moderate Water

Compact Winter Squash Seeds - Early Butternut & Delicata

by Renee's Garden

Plant In: April - June
Sun/Shade: Full Sun
Plant Depth: 1" / Space Seeds: 4"
Days to Germinate: 7-10 Days
Days to Harvest: 70 - 8 Days

"All-America" winning duo of the best space-saving varieties: super productive Early Butternut Bush with creamy-orange flesh and Bush Delicata with striped rinds and delicious flavor.

Squash Winter Butternut Waltham Seed

by Botanical Interest

Most popular butternut variety
Tremendous flavor
4 to 5 squash are produced per vine
5 gram seed package
Cucurbita pepo

The Waltham Butternut Winter Squash is the most popular butternut squash in home gardens. It has a tremendous flavor. The large squash can range from 3 to 6 pounds. Each vine averages 4 to 5 squash. The seed comes in a 5 gram seed package.

Planting Butternut Squash

Squash is a tender vegetable. The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Therefore in northern states it is best to start seeds indoors about 4 weeks before planting outside which is at least two weeks after last frost. With bush type Butternut Squash you would want three plants to make up a bush. Harden off by cutting back on water and reducing temperature before transplanting. Do not plant seedlings until all danger of frost is past and soil is thoroughly warmed. Wait until the soil is 60^oF to 65^oF before planting. Harvest should be 85 to 100 days from starting seed.

Disease Prevention - When planting your squash seedlings spray the roots with Actinovate, an organic fungicide. In addition spray the roots with Thrive which will add beneficial fungi and beneficial bacteria that will immediately start working to help and protect that plant.

Seed can be saved 6 years.

Caring For Butternut Squash

Ensure Squash Plants Stay Healthy

While proper fertilizing and watering is important to the success of the squash harvest, there are some additional steps you can take that will make an enormous difference in the health of your squash plants. In the first week of every month you should spray your plants with Thrive and Plant Growth Activator. These two products will add beneficial microbes to the leaves of the plant and help fight disease as well as insure that the plant grows to its maximum capability.

Disease Prevention For Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash is vulnerable to several fungal diseases such as powdery mildew. Now you can prevent the liklihood of having any disease problems by using a new organic biological fungicide called "Actinovate". When you plant your Butternut Squash seedlings you spray some actinovate on the roots. Then two weeks later you spray the leaves with Actinovate. Then spray Actinovate monthly through the growing season. You should not have any disease problems.

Fertilizing Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash requires low nitrogen and fairly high potassium and phosphorous for good fruit development. Add an organic granular fertilizer at a rate of 2 to 3 tablespoons per hill of three plants prior to planting. Do not over fertilize with nitrogen as this encourages vine growth and retards fruiting. Bush, dwarf, and short-vined plants do not need as much fertilizer as standard vining types. After the squash plants begin to flower and small fruits form, side-dress with 2 to 3 tablespoons of additional fertilizer. Butternut Squash will like a foliar spray of organic fish emulsion once a month through the season.

Watering Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash is deeply rooted, so water slowly with 1 inch of water per week. Allow it to completely soak the soil 6-8 inches deep. Water in the morning or early afternoon so the foliage dries by evening. This helps prevent the spread of leaf diseases. Decrease watering later in the season to encourage fruit to mature. At this time, the root systems will be more extensive and able to withstand drier conditions.

Harvesting & Storing Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash is ready to harvest when a finger nail cannot puncture the outside. It can stay on the vine for several weeks even after it is ripe. Though the vine may not survive the first frost, the fruits can still be harvested. To harvest, the Butternut Squash can be cut from the vine. Yet it is often easy enough to snap the fruit from the vine. Leave a bit of the stem on the fruit to help preserve moisture. By the time it is harvested there is usually little reason to worry about damaging the vine, as it will soon succumb to winter.

Butternut Squash will last several months if stored in a cool dry (but not too dry) place. Cooked Butternut Squash can be refrigerated for about four days. Once cooked, it may also be frozen for extended periods.

Cooking Butternut Squash

You can peel butternut squash with a vegetable peeler. The cut the squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds with a big spoon. Now you can cut the squash in smaller pieces and steam or boil them. Then mash the squash with a potato masher. Add lots of butter and enjoy

Problems Of Butternut Squash

Butternut Squash leaves are susceptible to some beetles and slugs, especially in the early growing periods. You also may see:

Squash bug

Squash vine borer

Striped cucumber beetles

Slugs

For Diseases

Bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila)

Powdery mildew - Avoid wetting foliage if possible. Water early in the day so aboveground plant parts will dry as quickly as possible. Avoid crowding plants. Space apart and eliminate weeds around plants and garden area to improve air circulation.