Squash ‘Butternut Queen’

The winter squash ‘Butternut Queen’, from the seed company Hortinova, is a highly prized variety for its elongated, pear-shaped fruits with smooth, beige skin and bright orange flesh. Weighing between 1 and 2 kg, these squashes offer a creamy texture and a mild flavour, ideal for enhancing your autumn and winter recipes.

Spread: 1.5 to 2 meters
Plant height: 30 to 45 cm
Quantity per pack: nd
Companion plants: Corn, beans, radishes
Enemy plants: Potato
Latin name: Cucurbita moschata

With its delicate nutty flavour, the ‘Butternut Queen’ is perfect for soups, stews, purees and desserts. Its thin skin, edible after cooking, simplifies preparation. It also adapts to different cooking techniques such as baking, steaming or in pies.

For best results, sow seeds directly into the ground after all risk of frost has passed or start indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting. Plant 2-3cm deep and space seedlings 1.5-2m apart to allow room for spread. Germination occurs in 7-14 days.

This variety prefers rich, well-drained soils and full sun exposure. Ensure regular watering, especially during the fruiting phase, and enrich the soil with compost to promote generous harvests. Harvest the fruits in autumn when their skin is nice and beige and hard to the touch, a sign of optimal ripeness. Store them in a cool, dry place to extend their shelf life.

‘Butternut Queen’ squash is a perfect choice for gardeners looking for tasty, versatile and easy-to-grow vegetables.