How to Grow Butternut Squash from Seed

Reader Contribution by Ann Katelyn
Published on September 14, 2016
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Photo by Flickr/missbossy

Butternut squash is one of the many different kinds of winter squash such as pumpkin. Characterized by a distinctive pale yellow color and a pear-shaped fruit, the squash is a valuable crop with high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. In particular, it’s relatively high in beta-carotene (characterized by firm orange flesh), which is converted by the body into Vitamin A.

Butternut squash is relatively easy to grow. Its growing season begins during summer for harvest in autumn. This means that the soil should be well warmed by the sun, approximately 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 C) at a 4-inch depth. The warm temperature is extremely crucial because butternut squash plants are tender and the seedlings will basically freeze with the slightest frost and seeds will only germinate in warm soil.

Sowing Squash Seeds and Transplanting

Butternut squash seeds will only germinate in warm soil, so it’s best to plant through summer. The butternut growing season is approximately 110-120 days for fruit maturation. Thus, if your season is a bit short, you can start the seeds indoors and direct them outside once the weather warms up. However, you need to do so before the last frost in your region. The seeds are relatively easy to sow and won’t take up much of your time or energy.

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