I couldn’t wait any longer. I think they were ready, anyway. I picked seven. If you look closely there’s another one growing in the back of the bed in the center. He’s still green so I have to leave him there for a few weeks.
A week before I picked them I discovered a nest, in the ground, large enough to compromise the integrity of two of my four plants. I don’t know what kind of animal it was, but the nest was about eight inches deep, full of fur, and invisible until the plants started to die back in September. I hope the babies were ready to leave when their cover was blown.
Next year I’m going to grow my butternut squash on a fence or trellis to open up some garden space.
Variety: Waldo PMR F1 by Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Four plants, direct seeded in the garden, the first week of June. Harvested September 21. Yield to date: 14.13 pounds (there’s still one more out there)
