Winter Squash Seeds - Waltham Butternut Heirloom Squash Seeds

Winter Squash Seeds - Waltham Butternut Squash Seeds Plant Basics: Germination: 7-14 days Days to Harvest: 85-100 days Plant Depth: 1 inch Spacing: 3ft on trellis, 8-10ft on ground Sun: Full sun 8+ hours Yield: 9-10 in, 4-6lb squash The Waltham Butternut Squash is sweet and delicious. Each vine will produce 3-4 squash weighing around 4-6 pounds each. Butternut squash last well into winter so it's great for gardeners who wish to enjoy their harvest well after the season. Butternut squash is extremely easy to grow. Plants need a lot of space, so I like to grow them on a trellis. Growing Instructions: 1) Direct sow: In spring after last frost date or threat of frost has passed. Plant4-5 seeds 1 inch deep in 8 inch high mounds. Keep soil moist but not overly wet. After seedlings reach 2-3 inches, thin to the strongest plant in the mound. 2) Transplant: *Recommended* (especially in northern areas and other areas with shorter growing seasons) Start seeds indoors in spring around 6-8 weeks before last frost date. Planting 1 inch deep in starting mix in container or tray. Cover the container or tray loosely with plastic to retain moisture. Place in a warm spot (80 degrees+ is ideal. Placing heating mats under plants helps speed up germination time.) After seeds germinate, remove plastic covering and continue to keep soil moist but not overly wet. Grow lights are a good addition at this point, especially if seedlings do not receive a lot of direct sunlight. Keep plants as close to grow lights as possible but not closer than 2-3 inches. (Soil will dry out quicker under the grow lights.) Move plants to larger containers after they've grown 2 sets of true leaves. At this point, I like to use a tabletop fan pointed at the plants help prepare them for outdoor conditions. About 1-2 weeks before you plan to transplant outdoors, start to harden the plants off by placing them outside. Start in the shade for an hour or two and extend the time each day, gradually exposing them to more sunlight, until they can be left outside for several hours in direct sunlight. Transplant after threat of frost has passed and soil temp is around 60-65 degrees. Transplant into garden into 8 inch mounds spread about 3 feet apart on trellises or 8-10ft apart on the ground. Early Planting Tips: Remove any blossoms that form before transplanting and any that emerge in the first several weeks. (Even if it's SO difficult to make yourself do this!) The plants will acclimate to their new environment better and use resources to grow stronger and fuller and produce a much larger harvest mid and late season. I like to mulch around the plants with about an inch of mulch, leaving a couple of inches diameter around the base of the plants. (We use grass and leaf clippings for this, but anything garden-friendly will work.) Covering the ground between the plants with tarps, cardboard, or similar will help keep the soil warm if temperatures still get cold at night. If frost is possible after transplanting, cover plants with sheets or tarps not heavy enough to damage branches or leaves. Eating: Butternut squash is excellent in soups and stews. (Roasted Butternut Squash Soup!) It's also excellent roasted and served with your favorite main course or on it's own. Stuffed butternut squash is great on the grill or in the oven. All of our seeds are: •GMO Free •Open Pollinator •American grown FREE SHIPPING - orders of $35+ $3.99 flat-rate shipping on all orders under $35. Additional growing instructions, tips and recipes on our website. Growing information provided for informational purposes only. Please message with any questions.