Buying Butternut Squash

SueCT · October 27, 2015

I love roasted Butternut Squash in the winter. It intensified the natural sweetness of the squash. I don't have room to grow it, so I buy it at local markets. This is the second year in a row I bought squash, half a bushel this time, that is bland and not sweet at all, even after roasting. Very disappointing. Of coarse I can "doctor it up" with brown sugar, maple syrup, etc. But with a good squash I don't have to. Does anyone who grows it know what causes this? Is it the variety, like a tomato? Is it weather, or when it is picked? Is it just "luck of the draw" when I buy it, or is there a way to tell a nice tasty squash before I buy it? I don't see any green on the squash and they are all good sized. While I am asking about it, if I do decide to grow a vine or two next year, is there any variety that will yield sweeter, tastier fruit?

Labradors2 · October 27, 2015

I've bought lousy, bland Acorn squash and been disappointed as usually I find it very tasty. Perhaps it depends on the soil in which it was grown.

This year, I was given seeds for Delicata squash which I grew, and it was the best tasting squash that I've ever eaten. The size was perfect for two people.

Let me know if you'd like some seeds.

Linda

October 28, 2015

I think the butternut needs to be kept for a while before being eaten. It will improve in flavour. You said you like them roasted in the winter, but it is not winter yet.

Acorn squash are ready to eat in the fall.

SueCT · October 28, 2015

I never heard that it will improve in flavor after picking. That would be very good news. I guess to be technically accurate I guess I should technically have said I enjoy it in fall and winter.

joseph · October 28, 2015

I tell people that buy freshly picked butternuts, "For best flavor let sit in a warm dry place for 3 to 6 weeks before eating."

whistech · October 29, 2015

That is the same for sweet potatoes. When they are fresh dug, they are starchy and do not taste very good. Let them cure for about a month and they are delicious.

luigiwu · October 30, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseph

I tell people that buy freshly picked butternuts, "For best flavor let sit in a warm dry place for 3 to 6 weeks before eating."

I find though that sometimes the butternut has started to rot a couple weeks into that! How can you tell if a butternut is freshly picked or be able to judge how long to let it sit?

Worth1 · October 30, 2015

I always thought a butternut squash was supposed to taste like bacon, garlic, salt, pepper, and butter.

Worth

Ricky Shaw · October 30, 2015

What butternut does everyone plant?

I'd like to grow it because I can trellis it, wife buys it already, but that 100DTM on the Waltham might be pushing it.

How about that honeynut butternut, anybody like that variety? Asking for a friend.

October 31, 2015

This year was my first time growing butternuts. I live on the Pacific coast of Canada, so usually grow maximas.

Winter Squash, Butternut Early Remix from Adaptive Seeds in Oregon performed fabulously - better than all my maximas. They were ready to pick the first week of September when I returned from a 7 week trip to South Africa and Namibia.

I haven't tried eating any yet, but they sure look good.

Ricky Shaw · October 31, 2015

Butternut Early Remix from Adaptive Seeds is exactly what I had in mind, thank you Diane.

"In 2005, we started growing every early butternut variety we could find, including Nutterbutter, Hunter F1, Butterbush, Early Butternut F1, Butterfly F1, & more. We allowed them to cross freely & have been selecting for early ripening & 2-4 lb fruit with a classic butternut shape."

https://www.adaptiveseeds.com/winter...-remix-organic

kath · November 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

What butternut does everyone plant?

I'd like to grow it because I can trellis it, wife buys it already, but that 100DTM on the Waltham might be pushing it.

How about that honeynut butternut, anybody like that variety? Asking for a friend.

After lots of years of trialing butternuts, I settled on Burpee Butterbush because of the smaller size, shorter vines and the fact that I can save seeds from it. It's really early for me compared to most but the vines are still longer than I'd like, so I may give Butterscotch F1 a try next year; it's a 2015 AAS winner bred by Johnny's Selected Seeds and Pinetree Seeds is carrying it.

joseph · November 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

I find though that sometimes the butternut has started to rot a couple weeks into that! How can you tell if a butternut is freshly picked or be able to judge how long to let it sit?

My experience is that butternuts are very long-keeping if kept in a warm/dry place such as on a shelf in the bedroom. By long keeping I mean a year...

If a butternut is rotting a couple of weeks after picking, then I would guess that it was picked prematurely. Jab your fingernail into the squash. If it penetrates the skin then it was picked immature and will never really develop good taste.

Look at the fruit... If it's got splotches where the skin looks wrong, then maybe it was bruised or damaged in transit, or perhaps bugs were chewing on it. (Usually a darker color).

joseph · November 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

What butternut does everyone plant?

I grow Lofthouse Moschata butternuts.

Tormato · November 21, 2015

While I generally don't care for the (lack of ) flavor in butternuts, there is one variety that stands alone for sweetness, in my garden - Tahitian Melon Squash. It grows large, and is late, though.

October 27, 2015	#1
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	Buying Butternut Squash I love roasted Butternut Squash in the winter. It intensified the natural sweetness of the squash. I don't have room to grow it, so I buy it at local markets. This is the second year in a row I bought squash, half a bushel this time, that is bland and not sweet at all, even after roasting. Very disappointing. Of coarse I can "doctor it up" with brown sugar, maple syrup, etc. But with a good squash I don't have to. Does anyone who grows it know what causes this? Is it the variety, like a tomato? Is it weather, or when it is picked? Is it just "luck of the draw" when I buy it, or is there a way to tell a nice tasty squash before I buy it? I don't see any green on the squash and they are all good sized. While I am asking about it, if I do decide to grow a vine or two next year, is there any variety that will yield sweeter, tastier fruit?

October 27, 2015	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,898	I've bought lousy, bland Acorn squash and been disappointed as usually I find it very tasty. Perhaps it depends on the soil in which it was grown. This year, I was given seeds for Delicata squash which I grew, and it was the best tasting squash that I've ever eaten. The size was perfect for two people. Let me know if you'd like some seeds. Linda

October 28, 2015	#3
LDiane Guest Posts: n/a	I think the butternut needs to be kept for a while before being eaten. It will improve in flavour. You said you like them roasted in the winter, but it is not winter yet. Acorn squash are ready to eat in the fall.

October 28, 2015	#5
joseph Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Cache Valley, N/E of The Great Salt Lake Posts: 1,244	I tell people that buy freshly picked butternuts, "For best flavor let sit in a warm dry place for 3 to 6 weeks before eating."

October 29, 2015	#6
whistech Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Between The Woodlands and Spring, Texas Posts: 553	That is the same for sweet potatoes. When they are fresh dug, they are starchy and do not taste very good. Let them cure for about a month and they are delicious.

October 30, 2015	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I always thought a butternut squash was supposed to taste like bacon, garlic, salt, pepper, and butter. Worth

October 30, 2015	#9
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	What butternut does everyone plant? I'd like to grow it because I can trellis it, wife buys it already, but that 100DTM on the Waltham might be pushing it. How about that honeynut butternut, anybody like that variety? Asking for a friend.

October 31, 2015	#10
LDiane Guest Posts: n/a	This year was my first time growing butternuts. I live on the Pacific coast of Canada, so usually grow maximas. Winter Squash, Butternut Early Remix from Adaptive Seeds in Oregon performed fabulously - better than all my maximas. They were ready to pick the first week of September when I returned from a 7 week trip to South Africa and Namibia. I haven't tried eating any yet, but they sure look good.

November 21, 2015	#15
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	While I generally don't care for the (lack of ) flavor in butternuts, there is one variety that stands alone for sweetness, in my garden - Tahitian Melon Squash. It grows large, and is late, though.