How Do You Plant Butternut Squash Seeds?
A type of winter squash, butternut squash grows well in many areas of the U.S. Mature butternut squash plants grow to heights between 12 and 18 inches, usually taking up to 120 days to reach full maturity when sown from seed. Butternut squash seeds prefer planting in warm soil and cannot tolerate soil that has any winter chill, according to University of Illinois Extension. Therefore, sowing must take place in the spring, after the threat of frost has passed. Choose a planting location that contains sunny, well-drained soil. Butternut squash prefers to grow in soil with a pH between 6.1 and 7.5. If you do not know the pH of your soil, purchase a soil testing kit from a garden center. Breakup the soil using a garden fork and amend with lime if the soil test reveals a pH below 6.1. Mix peat moss in with the soil if the pH is above 7.5. Add the required amendment according to label instructions. Sow the butternut squash seeds directly into the soil after the spring thaw. Press the buttern
