Erik,

Our butternut are funny shaped, most of them have a neck and then a larger, rounded chamber where the seeds are. Sometimes they grow longish, thin necks and others will be thicker squatty ones (kind of like people

) but they all taste the same (be nice). The shell is a tan color and the inside bright orange. We also call these winter squash as they have a hard shell and 'keep' a long time.

I also grew a type called spaghetti squash, also a hard shelled type. Spaghetti squash are oval shaped, like a rugby football, and have a cream colored shell. But I've eaten all of those already. They are lovely and when cooked hvae a stringy look and resemble pasta. They taste like sweet corn but with much less calories (low sugar).

I store my squash in my utility room which isn't heated but stays about 50 degrees F on average through the winter. None have rotted other than the ones where the stem broke too close to the fruit or where it had a cut in the shell.

I plant mine in May and protect the seedlings if I think frost will come. They mature by mid September through October and I pick when the first frost hits. When you pick squash you have to leave the stem on them.

I find that these squash cook up real well in a microwave oven. I cut them in half lengthwise and then scoop out the seeds. Then place them cut side down in a glass baking dish with about an inch of water (2.5 ml). Do not cover them. Set my microwave for 20 minutes and let it go.

Microwave ovens can vary but you will know when they are cooked when you can press the shell and it gives easily. I check mine after 15 minutes of cooking and until I determine it is cooked. Scoop out the flesh into a nice dish, add some real butter and serve.

These are all good served with grilled game meat. That orange color is what makes them so healthy, Betacarotine, a known antioxidant.

There are MANY varieties of winter squash. Our seed cataloges offer lots of them. They easy and are fun to grow.

John, if I could stay home day after day I wouldn't go to buy many groceries. I'd do as much as possible on my own as it would be much healthier. Low sugar, no chemicals, hormones, antibioitics, etc.... The biggest causes of cancer and diabeties in humans.