Squash Seeds - Winter Butternut Waltham

Packed in Resealable Long Life Mylar Moisture Proof Packets 10+ Year Survival Seed Viability Category: Vegetable Type: Squash Variety: Winter Butternut Waltham Family: Curcubitaceae           Botanical Name: Cucurbita moschata Hardiness Zones: 3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Growing Difficulty:  2         Soil PH:  5.5 to 6.8 Fertilizer Requirements: 24-8-16 Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining Germination (days): 8 to 10 Soil Temp for Germination: 70-95°F Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN Days to Maturity:  90 - 95 Planting Depth:  1” Distance Apart (in row):  36-48” Row Spacing: 8-10ft Sowing Instructions DIRECT SOW IN WARM, FERTILE SOIL WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 65°F Starting Indoors 4 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST FOR GARDENERS IN SHORT GROWING SEASONS (USE PEAT POT) SQUASH DOES NOT TRANSPLANT WELL Growing Tips IMPORTANT - When planting Squash, choose an area where you have not planted squash or related crops within the past 2 years. If starting indoors, make sure to harden off the seedlings by introducing them to the outside weather conditions for several hours per day for at least a week before transplanting. When the soil temperature reaches an average of 60°F, you can transplant or directly sow your squash seeds. We recommend planting squash in the same way that you would plant pumpkins (mound planting).  Plant two squash plants per hill, separate the hills by about 8-10’ apart. Squash can be companion planted with corn, but you should avoid planting your squash near potatoes. Place a layer of mulch under your squash plants to control moisture and prevent weeds. This will also protect the squash from too much ground moisture and keep the fruit clean. You should start pinching off many of the blooms during midsummer to allow the plant to focus energy on the squash production of only a few fruits per plant. Culinary Uses Butternut squash has a sweet and nutty taste (like a pumpkin). The butternut squash is great when roasted, sautéed, toasted, or even pureed for soups. When pureed or mashed, the butternut squash is great to use in casseroles, muffins, breads and even pies. The butternut squash is in the same family as pumpkins. Harvesting Crops If you would like an earlier squash harvest, you may select a few squashes before full maturity in the summer. Like a pumpkin, squash can be harvested as soon as its stem becomes dry and you are unable to pierce the skin of the squash with your fingernail. Squashes do not like cold weather and frost will damage your squash. Make sure that when you harvest your squash, you use a sharp knife or garden shears to cut them from the vine. Cut the squash off the vine with about 2-3” of stem length remaining on the top of the pumpkin. Allow the stem to harden and shrivel by sun curing your harvest. Squash will keep well if kept in a 45-50°F location and can last for months.   Harvesting Seed Once the squash has been cured, the stem is dried and the skin is unable to be pierced, you are able to harvest the seeds. Harvesting squash seed is like that of harvesting pumpkin seeds. Cut the squash open and remove the seeds with the pulp. Separate the seeds from the pulp with a colander and running water. Place the seeds in a bowl of water to continue separating the rest of the pulp. The seeds you will want to harvest are the ones that sink.   Make sure to dry the seeds thoroughly by laying flat on a large paper towel and turning or stirring them up frequently to make sure both sides have completely dried. Safely store you seeds to use in your next crop. Squash seeds are viable for up to four years depending on your storage method.