Squash, Winter, Waltham Butternut

Among all of the colorful and unusual varieties of squash to choose from, it's important not to overlook some of the familiar tried and true staples. No matter what funky squash you might grow for fun, butternut is a squash every gardener should plant. Butternut squash is one of the most blandly colored, yet sweetest and most richly flavored of the winter squashes. Once baked (about 45-60 minutes at 400 degrees), its yellow-orange flesh is smooth as silk. Slice into it with a fork, and billows of steam rise up. It's equally delicious eaten plain or in soups.

Plant after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to 60 degree F. Sow seed 1/2" to 1" deep into hills. Sow 4 to 5 seeds per hill. Space hills about 6 feet apart. When the plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill by snipping off unwanted plants without disturbing the roots of the remaining ones.