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This year for the first time we grew butternut, the seed came from a butternut bought at the supermarket. The seeds were started in normal potting compost on a windowsill and potted up into 9cm pots. In May when the temperature in our part of the UK stays generally above 10 degrees centigrade they were moved to the cold frame. When the plants had filled the pots they were then planted out in the garden. We were fortunate in moving to this house that had been empty for three years and only minimal gardening had been done, all the weeds, grass cuttings, and garden refuse had been piled up and left to rot. Lots of weed seed arrived and were hoed of until the butternut vines suppressed every thing else. Being novice growers we knew nothing about butternut except that they were concurbits so treated them like marrows, cutting them as they reached a suitable size. Enough for two, three, or four people as required or for recipes. Some were given away, others used for soup, stir frying, roasting and stuffing. As I write we have three left, one suitable to bake and serve three, one for two and one that would serve three or four. The largest is being saved for the local gardening clubs spring show, (unless it gets eaten at Christmas). These three were immature when cut but have been ripened on a South facing windowsill. Next year we are going to grow them again using saved seed from this years crop, and try some of the articles recipes.
Poppa, congratulations on a successful first crop. They are beautiful; those fat necks sure give you a lot to eat. And think of it, no investment after the initial supermarket one. Wow.
