Butternut Squash
Cucurbita moschata 'Waltham Butternut'
vegetableButternut is the most popular winter squash, a tan, bell-shaped fruit with dense, sweet, deep-orange flesh, a small seed cavity, and a smooth rind that is easy to peel. The vigorous vines ripen fruit in roughly 85 to 110 days, and butternut is one of the best-keeping squash, sweetening in storage and lasting for months.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~105 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
36-48 in. apart
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Planting Depth
1 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting and again when vines begin to run
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow after the last frost once the soil is above 60F, in full sun and rich, well-drained soil, giving the rambling vines plenty of room. Water deeply and evenly, mulch to hold moisture, and feed with compost, since winter squash are heavy feeders that need a long, warm season to mature.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Aug 12
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Nasturtium: Deters squash bugs and beetles
- Borage: Draws the pollinators needed for fruit set
- Marigold: Suppresses nematodes
- Corn: The traditional Three Sisters partner that offers vertical structure
❌ Keep away from
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Butternut is a recommended borer-resistant choice thanks to its solid stems; still clean up debris and watch the vines
Remove debris, hand-pick adults, and crush egg clusters
Space widely and water at the base
🌾 Harvest & storage
Harvest when the rind has turned solid tan, is hard enough to resist a fingernail, and the stem is dry and corky, ideally a couple of weeks past full color, cutting with a stub of stem attached. Cure butternut at about 80 to 85F for ten days to harden the rind and convert starch to sugar, then store at 50 to 60F, where it keeps three to six months.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
Butternut squash is an outstanding source of vitamin A from beta-carotene, with one cup supplying well over a day's worth, plus vitamin C, potassium, and fiber at low calories.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.