Sowing: People who live in places with short growing seasons might want to start Waltham Butternut squash seeds inside a month before the last frost date. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Before you plant the seedlings, harden them off by leaving them out in the weather for a few hours at a time during the week. Once the soil is about 60 degrees F, or a week after the last frost, plant the seedlings 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 10 to 12 inches apart in very rich soil. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10 apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds 1/2″ deep, 3–4 inches apart, and then thin them out to 8–10 inches apart a week after the last frost. For companion planting benefits, plant winter squash seeds along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
Growing: Since squash seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist all the time, but don’t let the leaves get wet because that can lead to rot or mildew. When the vines start to grow, a layer of mulch will help keep the soil moist and keep weeds from growing. The mulch will also keep the squashes clean and keep them from touching the soil too much. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plants energy on the developing squashes. Waltham Butternut resists the squash borer.
Squashes can be picked when the skin gets too hard to pierce with a fingernail and the stem starts to dry out. Because cold weather can damage squashes, they should be harvested before the first frost. Cut the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-3″ length. Do not carry the squash by its stem; if it breaks, use the stem right away because the squash will go bad quickly if you do. Put the squashes in the sun or somewhere dry to dry out until the stems shrink. Don’t wash the ones you want to store. It is possible to pick Waltham Butternut when it is still young, like a summer squash, or when it is fully grown. This squash stores well and is one of the most popular ones for baking.
Seed Saving: By the time the squash has been cured, the seeds are mature. Cut the squash open, remove the pulp and seeds, and rinse off the pulp. Put the mixture in a bowl of water to remove the remaining pulp; the good seeds will sink. Take out the good seeds and spread them out to dry for two to three weeks. Stir them every so often to make sure they dry all the way. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.
I love that the Mylar packaging can be closed again and again. The seeds are big and dry, and they seem to be germinating well.
With its sweet nutty flavor and smooth texture butternut squash is one of the most beloved winter squashes. Growing your own butternut squash lets you enjoy fresh-picked flavor at harvest time. Read on to learn everything about planting butternut squash seeds and caring for the vines.
Choosing the Best Butternut Squash Seeds
The first step is selecting a proven butternut squash seed variety suited to your growing conditions:
-
Waltham Butternut – All-American Selections winner. Classic heirloom, excellent quality.
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Early Butternut – Earliest maturing butternut, great for short season areas.
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Metro PMR – Disease resistant high yields of 3-5 lb fruits.
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Honeybear – Mini 3 lb fruits, compact vines great for containers.
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Zenith – Uniform fruits, powdery mildew resistant vines.
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Burpee’s Butterbush – Bush-type plants, disease resistant.
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Butterscotch – Small (2 lb) bell-shaped fruits, semi-bush vines.
Look for heirloom or untreated butternut squash seeds if you prefer organic. Treated seeds offer some disease protection.
When to Plant Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is a warm season, frost tender crop. Direct sow seeds:
- 1-2 weeks after final spring frost
- When soil temps warm to at least 65°F
- From late spring through mid summer for successive harvests
Quick maturing varieties can be planted in early summer for fall harvest before first frost.
Starting Butternut Squash Seeds Indoors
You can get a head start on the season by:
-
Planting seeds indoors 4 weeks before last spring frost.
-
Use biodegradable peat pots to avoid transplant shock.
-
Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors.
Butternut squash vines don’t like to be root disturbed, so minimize handling when moving seedlings.
How to Plant Butternut Squash Seeds Outdoors
To direct sow butternut squash seeds into your garden:
-
Prepare soil well with compost and fertilizer. Butternut squash needs nutrient rich soil.
-
Plant seeds 1 inch deep in hills spaced 4 feet apart.
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Sow 6-8 seeds per hill, and later thin to 3 best seedlings.
-
Or plant seeds 1 inch deep, 2 feet apart in rows 4-6 feet apart.
-
Water soil well to get seeds started if spring rains are lacking.
Caring for Butternut Squash Vines
Once seedlings emerge, proper care is vital:
-
Water 1-2 inches per week. Provide consistent moisture, never let soil dry out.
-
Weed regularly. Butternut squash vines spread and cannot compete with weeds.
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Mulch around plants to smother weeds and retain soil moisture.
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Fertilize vines every 2-3 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer.
-
Turn or till soil gently around vines, avoiding damaging roots.
-
Control pests like cucumber beetles that spread disease.
Growing Butternut Squash on Trellises
Butternut squash vines spread widely across the ground unless trellised vertically. Here are some trellising tips:
-
Grow bush or semi-bush varieties which take up less space.
-
Train vines up sturdy trellises, fencing, or A-frames for vertical growth.
-
Allow 12-18 inch spacing between plants for air circulation if trellising.
-
Gently tie vines to supports using soft plant ties or cloth strips.
-
Fruits hanging on trellised vines require support like slings.
Container Growing Butternut Squash
You can grow butternut squash in pots with:
-
A container at least 18-24 inches wide and deep.
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Potting mix enriched with compost and fertilizer.
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Seeds sown in hills or spaced 12 inches apart in container.
-
Bush or semi-bush varieties suited for containers like Butterbush.
-
Vertical trellising to save space. Support fruits hanging from vines.
-
Consistent watering as containers dry out faster than in-ground.
Limit vine length by pinching off growing shoot tips.
How to Harvest Butternut Squash
Harvest butternut squash fruits:
-
Once they turn deep tan and rind is rock hard.
-
Leave on vine until fully mature for best flavor.
-
Use pruning shears to cut fruits from vines, leaving 2-3 inches of stem.
-
Harvest before heavy frosts or freezes damage fruits.
-
Cure for 10 days in warm area to harden rind and enhance flavor.
Store cured butternut squash in cool 50-60°F location through winter.
Storing Butternut Squash After Harvest
To store butternut squash fruits after harvest:
-
Cure freshly harvested fruits 10-14 days in warm, dry location.
-
Check fruits and discard any with soft spots or damage.
-
Store only blemish-free, hardened fruits long term.
-
Keep cured squash in cool, dry location around 50-60°F.
-
Avoid storing near apples which emit ethylene gas that shortens storage life.
-
Check cured fruits every 2-3 weeks and remove any new soft spots.
-
Properly cured butternut squash keeps 2-3 months in ideal storage conditions.
Common Pests and Diseases
Protect vines from these potential squash bugs and diseases:
-
Cucumber beetles carry bacterial wilt disease. Control with row covers.
-
Squash vine borers bore into stems. Hand pick adults and larvae.
-
Powdery mildew fungus coats leaves. Improve air circulation.
-
Downy mildew causes leaf blotches. Rotate planting sites.
-
Squash bugs suck juices from plants. Remove by hand early.
-
Various vine wilts spread by insects. Control pests and diseases early.
Avoid wetting foliage when watering and provide good drainage to limit diseases.
How to Save Butternut Squash Seeds
To save seeds from your healthiest, best yielding butternut squash:
-
Select fruits from only your most vigorous, disease-free vines.
-
Scoop out and rinse seeds from fully ripe squashes.
-
Spread seeds in single layer on screens or newspaper.
-
Allow seeds 2-3 weeks to dry fully.
-
Place completely dry seeds in airtight container.
-
Store in cool location until next planting season.
-
Discard any seeds from fruits with flaws, imperfections or disease.
Saving your own butternut squash seeds ensures you’ll have free seeds ideally adapted to your growing conditions for next year’s garden.
With proper planting, care and harvesting, a small packet of butternut squash seeds can provide an abundant yield. Follow best practices and with luck, you’ll be harvesting bushels of robust, sweet butternut squash from your garden this fall.
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Sowing: People who live in places with short growing seasons might want to start Waltham Butternut squash seeds inside a month before the last frost date. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Before you plant the seedlings, harden them off by leaving them out in the weather for a few hours at a time during the week. Once the soil is about 60 degrees F, or a week after the last frost, plant the seedlings 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 10 to 12 inches apart in very rich soil. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10 apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds 1/2″ deep, 3–4 inches apart, and then thin them out to 8–10 inches apart a week after the last frost. For companion planting benefits, plant winter squash seeds along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
Growing: Since squash seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist all the time, but don’t let the leaves get wet because that can lead to rot or mildew. When the vines start to grow, a layer of mulch will help keep the soil moist and keep weeds from growing. The mulch will also keep the squashes clean and keep them from touching the soil too much. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plants energy on the developing squashes. Waltham Butternut resists the squash borer.
Squashes can be picked when the skin gets too hard to pierce with a fingernail and the stem starts to dry out. Because cold weather can damage squashes, they should be harvested before the first frost. Cut the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-3″ length. Do not carry the squash by its stem; if it breaks, use the stem right away because the squash will go bad quickly if you do. Put the squashes in the sun or somewhere dry to dry out until the stems shrink. Don’t wash the ones you want to store. It is possible to pick Waltham Butternut when it is still young, like a summer squash, or when it is fully grown. This squash stores well and is one of the most popular ones for baking.
Seed Saving: By the time the squash has been cured, the seeds are mature. Cut the squash open, remove the pulp and seeds, and rinse off the pulp. Put the mixture in a bowl of water to remove the remaining pulp; the good seeds will sink. Take out the good seeds and spread them out to dry for two to three weeks. Stir them every so often to make sure they dry all the way. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.
Latin Name: Cucurbita moschata
Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Warm Season
USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Seeds per Ounce: 310
Planting Method: Direct Sow
Sunlight: Full Sun
Height: 24 Inches
Color: Green
We are looking forward to planting these squash. My order was promptly filled and delivered.
I love the mylar package that zips shut!
I love that the Mylar packaging can be closed again and again. The seeds are big and dry, and they seem to be germinating well.
Great source for garden seeds. Excellent prices and you cant beat the packaging.
Love packaging. High hopes for seeds.
Great value quick service
Came quickly, at a very fair price.
The package is excellent and the seeds grow well. Thanks to everwilde!
Really old; I speak of myself. I’ve been a good to great customer for more than 5 years and have never had a bad experience with anything. I say that of services, product and information. All is totally excellent. seriously useful/. Paul in Gods country Kansas USA.
| Size | Price | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| XL Mylar Packet (~40 Seeds) | $3.48 | –+ |
| 1 Oz Mylar (~310 Seeds) | $6.76 | –+ |
| 1/4 Lb Mylar (113g) | $10.34 | –+ |
| 1 Lb Mylar (454g) | $22.80 | –+ |
| 5 Lb Mylar (2.27kg) | $102.60 | –+ |
| 10 Lb Mylar (4.54kg) | $182.40 | –+ |
| 25 Lb Bulk Bag (11.3kg) | $433.20 | –+ |
| 50 Lb Bulk Bag (22.7kg) | $820.80 | –+ |
| 100 Lb Bulk Bag (45.4kg) | $1,596.00 | –+ |
| Add to Wishlist | ||
Sowing: People who live in places with short growing seasons might want to start Waltham Butternut squash seeds inside a month before the last frost date. Since squashes do not take well to transplanting, peat pots are the best option. Plant two seeds per pot, later clipping off the weaker seedling. Before you plant the seedlings, harden them off by leaving them out in the weather for a few hours at a time during the week. Once the soil is about 60 degrees F, or a week after the last frost, plant the seedlings 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 10 to 12 inches apart in very rich soil. Another option is to plant the seedlings in hills of two, 8-10 apart. To direct sow, plant the seeds 1/2″ deep, 3–4 inches apart, and then thin them out to 8–10 inches apart a week after the last frost. For companion planting benefits, plant winter squash seeds along with corn but avoid planting them with potatoes.
Growing: Since squash seedlings do not tolerate frost, provide protective coverings if cold weather threatens. Keep the soil moist all the time, but don’t let the leaves get wet because that can lead to rot or mildew. When the vines start to grow, a layer of mulch will help keep the soil moist and keep weeds from growing. The mulch will also keep the squashes clean and keep them from touching the soil too much. By midsummer, pinch off all the blooms to concentrate the plants energy on the developing squashes. Waltham Butternut resists the squash borer.
Squashes can be picked when the skin gets too hard to pierce with a fingernail and the stem starts to dry out. Because cold weather can damage squashes, they should be harvested before the first frost. Cut the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a 2-3″ length. Do not carry the squash by its stem; if it breaks, use the stem right away because the squash will go bad quickly if you do. Put the squashes in the sun or somewhere dry to dry out until the stems shrink. Don’t wash the ones you want to store. It is possible to pick Waltham Butternut when it is still young, like a summer squash, or when it is fully grown. This squash stores well and is one of the most popular ones for baking.
Seed Saving: By the time the squash has been cured, the seeds are mature. Cut the squash open, remove the pulp and seeds, and rinse off the pulp. Put the mixture in a bowl of water to remove the remaining pulp; the good seeds will sink. Take out the good seeds and spread them out to dry for two to three weeks. Stir them every so often to make sure they dry all the way. Store the seeds in a cool, dry place for up to 4 years.
Latin Name: Cucurbita moschata
Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Warm Season
USDA Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Seeds per Ounce: 310
Planting Method: Direct Sow
Sunlight: Full Sun
Height: 24 Inches
Color: Green
We are looking forward to planting these squash. My order was promptly filled and delivered.
I love the mylar package that zips shut!
I love that the Mylar packaging can be closed again and again. The seeds are big and dry, and they seem to be germinating well.
Great source for garden seeds. Excellent prices and you cant beat the packaging.
Great value quick service
Came quickly, at a very fair price.
The package is excellent and the seeds grow well. Thanks to everwilde!
Really old; I speak of myself. I’ve been a good to great customer for more than 5 years and have never had a bad experience with anything. I say that of services, product and information. All is totally excellent. seriously useful/. Paul in Gods country Kansas USA.
How to Grow ButterNut Squash seed to harvest
FAQ
How do you prepare butternut squash seeds for planting?
Can you plant store bought butternut squash seeds?
Should butternut squash seeds be soaked before planting?
Can you plant seeds straight from a butternut squash?
How do you grow a butternut squash seed?
Seeds can also be directly sown outside in well-draining soil. in late May to early June when all danger of frost is past and the soil is well warmed by the sun to about 60 to 65 degrees F. (15-18 C.) Plant seedlings at a 4-inch (10 cm) depth. Butternut squash plants are extremely tender.
When to plant butternut squash seeds?
Knowing when to plant your seeds will ensure that you get the best yields and the most flavorful squash. So when is the best time to plant butternut squash seeds outdoors? The best time to plant butternut squash seeds outdoors is when the soil temperature has reached at least 60°F (15°C).
Can you plant butternut squash indoors?
To start butternut squash indoors, you’ll need to plant seeds about six weeks before the last frost in your area. Plant them in good soil in a sunny window or greenhouse and transplant to the garden after all danger of frost is past.
What is a butternut squash plant?
Butternut squash plant is a type of pumpkin or winter squash and the plant is a type of viny or climbing variety. It is related to pumpkins and acorn squash. This plant will spread its vines and broad leaves out during summer. Then it will store its sunny energy and antioxidants in its deep orange late-summer fruit.