But we had a side of butternut squash with our squash boats last week:
I didn't buy any butternut at the store (especially at $1.19 a pound!). It wasn't given to us by anyone.
It was from LAST year's harvest. Yep, you read that right. I cooked and served up a squash that was harvested sometime in November of 2011 and fed it to my family.
 |
| Waltham Butternut harvested in November of 2011 |
I planted Waltham Butternut late in the season last year, so I was still harvesting them close to the end of November. I don't remember how many plants I started, probably four or five and they did take up one whole section of the "berry" garden. We did have squash bugs take over the zucchini, but they didn't seem to wander over to the butternut much. No powdery mildew either although I don't know if winter squash are prone to that.....unlike my Patty Pan and Yellow Crookneck this summer. And although I'm a bit upset at myself for not planting any this year, I now know that it is most definitely on the list of "Things to Plant" next year.
If you're thinking of planting a good-keeping storage vegetable next year, give the Waltham Butternut a try. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. Unless, of course, you don't like to eat them.
Oh, did I forget to mention that they are an heirloom plant? So you can save those seeds! How much better can it get??
I'll put that on my TO PLANT list for sure, it looks yummy! Aren't you just flabbergasted at the prices of produce at Walmart? I see a pound of okra that doesn't look good at all and they want 2 somethin' for it!!! I have a freakin' gold mine in the backyard if that's the going $ for a # of okra! I didn't plant any zucchini or crookneck squash this year because of last years battle of the squash bugs :P Now those little nasties are on my pumpkin and cucumber plants!!!! The battle continues.....
ReplyDeleteI too had the same problems that Kelly refers to - bugs in the squash, pumpkins, etc. Our acorn did not produce, and we did not plant butternut this year (last year we did).
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion, I must check out the seeds for the new planting.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed at just how long those winter type squashes will keep! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's truly amazing! Of course, I picked some overgrown pattypan squash last fall and fed them to the chickens all winter. And they're not even supposed to be anything you can store. I'm always amazed at nature.
ReplyDeleteJudy
Another good keeper is Long Island Cheese squash. They make super pumpkin pies; much better than the traditional pie pumpkins. The only thing is you can get several pies from one squash!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! I planted that variety last year but didn't even try to store it, looks like that will be my next year's new experiment :)
ReplyDelete