Waltham Butternut squash, also known scientifically as Cucurbita moschata ‘Butternut’, is a summer grown vegetable that is planted when the soil temperatures reach between 60 -70 degrees. It is one of the squash plants that we domesticated in the America’s and is where we get most of our pumpkins, squash, and surprisingly, cucumbers, which are in the same family. The fruit is edible, as is the blossom, and can be used in a variety of dishes, often as a substitute for sweet potatoes. Butternut squash has a fairly long growing season, up to 105 days before harvest. In colder areas, like where we are (zone 5b), we can grow them with hoop houses to extend our growing season (~110 days). It is really a versatile vegetable, and it goes great with dishes like Risotto with Butternut squash! Jump over to the recipe to learn how to make an incredibly comforting dish!!!
