'North Circle' Butternut

Cucurbita moschata

Origin: Northern Minnesota

Improvement status: Landrace Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~22

Germination tested 11/2023: 97%

Life cycle: Annual

This squash variety comes from our friend Zachary Paige of North Circle Seeds, who farms in northern Minnesota. Zach is especially focused on productive varieties that are regionally-adapted to the short season of the upper midwest. From Zach:

"Selected for earliness in our Northern climate and for classic butternut shape and taste. There is some variation within this cultivar as it is made of many classic butternut varieties. Originally sourced from Adaptive Seeds as 'Butternut Early Remix', developed by Andrew Still, Sarah Kleeger, and the Seed Ambassadors Project. The butternut varieties included in this new open-pollinated variety include 'Nutterbutter', 'Hunter F1', 'Butterbush', 'Early Butternut F1', 'Butterfly F1'. Selected for earliness and for a long neck in our northern climate for the past decade by Minnesota grower, Kathy Connell. 

This variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states: “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” More information on OSSI can be found at osseeds.org.

GROWING TIPS: Direct seed in loose soil every 18 inches after danger of frost is past and soil temp is about 60F. You may also start seeds indoors to give them a head start. If starting indoors, sow 6 weeks before the last frost. Fertilize with fish emulsion or a soluble, complete fertilizer. Harvest when skin turns hard and is difficult to pierce with thumbnail."

These seeds were grown by Kass McKinnon, Clint Fruend, and Dusty Hinz in Milaca, Minnesota.