Growing Waltham Butternut Winter Squash Garden Seeds

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Sowing & Growing:

Sow Waltham Butternut Winter Squash seeds in either late summer or early fall before your region's first frost. As long as the soil temperature is 60 F, you can plant butternut squash in hills. Water winter squash daily and deeply, as squash has shallow root systems. For an abundant crop, lay down mulch, as squash plants need to stay moist to thrive. Winter squash like Waltham Butternut are fast-maturing tender annuals and prefer more acidic soil. Even though Waltham Butternut Winter Squash seeds are a cool-season crop, Cucurbita maxima types need warm enough conditions to fully develop their oval, bell-like shape, rich color, and tough exterior. Once your winter squash has grown 8-12 inches, apply fertilizer to increase yield.

Harvesting:

Harvest winter butternut squash 85-90 days after sowing, or once the color changes and the exterior becomes tough. Detach Waltham Butternut Winter Squash plants from their vine with a knife or gardening shears. Store your squash over winter by harvesting before your region's first frost. Winter squash varieties can also last for months if you cure them. However, Waltham Butternut Squash tends to grow best while it's still attached to the vine. If you run into problems before harvest, cut the squash from the vine and continue growing it in a cool, dry location. Visual signs will help you know when butternut squash is ready to pick, as their stems will turn from green to brown. You can also harvest winter squash once it's grown to 8-12 inches. As the holidays approach and the summer season fades, gardeners everywhere plant this popular squash to enjoy over winter. The bright-orange flesh and tan exterior of Waltham squash can be baked into a rich dish with cinnamon or cooked as a velvety butternut soup.

Facts:

Cucurbita maxima, or squash in general, was first grown in Central and South America. The 2 major differences between growing winter and summer squash varieties are: how fast they mature and their soil preference.

Waltham Butternut Winter Squash Seeds Per Package:

• 1 oz - Approximately 292 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 1,168 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 4,672 Seeds
• 5 lbs - Approximately 23,360 Seeds