Squash, Butternut – Muscat
€1.95
Description
Squash, Butternut – Muscat is a type of butternut squash with fruits that are light orange on the outside. The orange-red coloured meat has a firm consistency that has a fine, musky scent. The sweet nutty-tasting meat can be boiled or steamed for desserts, cakes or pumpkin soups. The seeds can be roasted whole or ground and served on top of soups. They have a high oil and protein content.
Sowing:
Early April – early May (indoors)
Planting:
May – June (in a polytunnel or greenhouse)
Spacing:
1.2m between plants or 60cm if grown up a support of strong twine.
Approx. seed count: 7
Soil and site:
Squash, Butternut – Muscat needs a fertile, free-draining soil that can hold plenty of moisture. A generous application of well-decomposed compost is beneficial (about 1 bucket per square meter).
They also need a very sheltered place in the garden or better even grown in a polytunnel or greenhouse.
Rotation:
Pumpkins belong to the cucurbit family. This family is not prone to any soil borne pests and diseases, so there is no need to stick to a strict rotation. In fact they could be grown in the same place every year.
Plant care:
From each plant you will get between 6 to 10 fruits.
Harvesting:
Harvest Squash, Butternut – Muscat as soon as the fruits are ready from July to September.
Storing:
Squashes actually store for a surprisingly long time. If they have properly ripened they will store until March in a cool, but frost free shed.
Potential problems:
Apart from their sensitivity to cold and windy weather there are no specific pests or diseases that affect pumpkins. Slugs, however, like the newly planted pumpkins, so you need to protect them.
How much to grow:
Squash are only suitable for large gardens. Everybody underestimates the space they require. Unless you have a large garden only one to two plants are sufficient. At least you’ll have some fun at Halloween.
History:
The name ‘Squash’ is an abbreviation of the native American word askutashash which means ‘eaten raw or uncooked’.
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