Butternut squash

[seedcorn]

Wife and I love butternut squash but one is just too large. Reading about a variety called Butterbaby. 1# fruits with a semi-bush plant. Says high eating quality. Thoughts? What kind do you grow?

 

[ninnymary]

Territorial Seeds

 

[seedcorn]

Did you grow any? Thoughts?

 

[ninnymary]

Did you grow any? Thoughts?

No, I wanted to order a packet of seeds of a zucchini and it was $7.95 for shipping. I even called to make sure that was right. Not ordering something for $3.85 and paying $7.95 to have it shipped.

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

If one is to large why not just share with your chickens

 

[seedcorn]

If one is to large why not just share with your chickens

I’m down to one bantam rooster who is like the energizer bunny. Refuses to die. I’m done with chickens as I want to go visit kids without having to get him a care taker. He’s become a pet.

 

[baymule]

I grew Honey Boat Delicata squash this 2017 season. They were the perfect size, and they have kept good. I still have a few in a bowl in the kitchen. I cut them in half, lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. I bake them with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar or I just place them cut side down in a pan with a little water in it. One is the perfect size for me and my husband.

This picture was taken June 4, 2017. I planted the first of March.

By June 21, the vines were toast and I picked them all.

 

[digitS']

I just googled Butterbaby Squash and checked 3 websites. Pan Am, a wholesale outfit, says something like "early release, 2019." Checking two of their retailers, I don't find a squash with that name offered.

Seed' are you really that cutting-edge that you have access to the newest of the new varieties? Or, did I not Google far enough??

@ninnymary 's suggestion is Honeynut and I find this: Honeybaby

Winter squash looks like it's captured some recent interest. That's good ... I hope that there is some more creativity with names. @baymule 's choice is a Honey Boat! It's a delicata type and probably delicious but it's a C. pepo not a C. moschata.

Just a little personal experience with some varieties from shorter or "dwarf" plants. They seem to have struggled in my garden. Most recently, I tried a dwarf butternut and some of the plants died! None of the standard buttercups died ... And sure, I'd like a more manageable variety than some I've grown but can't have 'em just perishing!

Seed'. Is there some reason that you aren't considering an acorn type? I'd certainly like that delicata but gotta have whatta is both delicious and a good keeper.

I hope that this isn't just a hijacking thought but I was recently reading that the C. maxima squash came from one small area in South America. They weren't like C. pepo and spread north and south by Native Americans.

Burgess butternut (C. maxima) was like the first variety to be available in short season areas. I wonder if this relatively recent spread explains the Japanese kabochas. They all look so similar to our C. maxima with just some refinement to each. Anyway, there are some smaller varieties of these as well, developed on both sides of the Pacific to try.

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m down to one bantam rooster who is like the energizer bunny. Refuses to die. I’m done with chickens as I want to go visit kids without having to get him a care taker. He’s become a pet.

I got rid of all my chickens fro pretty much the same reason, it was too much work to try to find someone to take care of them when I went to visit my grandkids. Mine were never pets but if I can't take care of them properly I won't keep them. And my kids and grandkids have priority.

I'll offer another option or two for your dilemma of them being too big for both of you. One is called leftovers. That's where if you have more than you can eat in one meal, you have some later, often the next day. I don't know how you cook your squash, I like Bay's method, but some people really like certain foods as leftovers, it gives the flavors more time to blend. With the texture of squash freezing probably won't hurt it that much either. You could maybe freeze part of it for later.

Another option is compost. After they are cooked even the skins break down fairly fast in a working compost pile. That sure beats sending it to a landfill.

Then my last suggestion. Each squash has it's own size, texture, and flavor. Some keep better than others. You might try growing a few different varieties and see which ones you prefer. We all have different tastes. My wife is usually happy with whatever variety of winter squash I grow (acorn, delicata, or butternut) but she prefers the flavor of butternut so I don't have that much choice. Butternut it is for me. You may have more flexibility in what you try.

I think you have options Seed, but it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you. I have not tried butterbaby but @digitS' might be interested in this.

https://www.panamseed.com/plant_info.aspx?phid=058800001039237

 

[flowerbug]

many years ago we had butternut squash quite often but i
was not ever very happy with the flavor.

now we grow buttercup squash, large plants that vine quite a
ways. because we save seeds the plants have cross-bred with
something else and the flavor is still good, but the color is
orange for some of the fruits.

i just roasted 13 of them yesterday and scooped them out and
packaged for freezing. we usually can eat a pretty large
squash between the two of us (one to two cups each). this was
the last of the harvest.

the worms will be feasting.