Early Remix Butternut (Open-pollinated)

(Curcurbita moschata)
Butternut

Butternut squash has not played a big role in our project because they are already the most popular and most consumed in the US. They are well-liked because of their sweet and smooth flesh as well as being versatile and easy-to-use in the kitchen. There’s also something to be said for butternut squash being so familiar they are the quintessential squash for many.

In general, butternuts store well. The challenge in western Oregon is getting butternuts to mature - often the season is too short for fruits to ripen successfully. Several years ago, the folks at Adaptive Seeds grew an assortment of the earliest varieties they could find. They allowed them to randomly mate, then continued to plant out the seed each year as they selected for the most productive and earliest individuals. This Early Remix is the result.

For us, Early Remix has been reliable, extremely productive, and long storing. Fruits are small - medium in size, and there is still some variation in size and shape, but honestly, we love that. It means there’s a little bit of something for everybody. Butternut flavor benefits from cure time, but it is not as imperative as with some of the kabocha types.

• good flavor and quality

• good storage

• productive and reliable

When to Find/Eat: October - January