{"id":6559,"date":"2026-03-17T00:06:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T07:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/17\/how-to-plant-and-grow-buttercup-squash\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T00:06:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T07:06:33","slug":"how-to-plant-and-grow-buttercup-squash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/17\/how-to-plant-and-grow-buttercup-squash\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plant and Grow Buttercup Squash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Soil<\/h3>\n

Buttercup squash will happily grow in loamy garden soil enriched with organic matter and a pH range of 6.0 to 6.8.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t sure what your garden soil is like, conduct a soil test<\/a><\/strong> and amend according to the results.<\/p>\n

Water<\/h3>\n

As with other winter types, it\u2019s best to water buttercup squash deeply, but infrequently.<\/p>\n

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Watch plants for wilting as a sign that they are thirsty. Depending on the weather, you may need to irrigate once or twice a week during the hottest days of summer.<\/p>\n

To prevent fungal diseases taking hold on wet foliage, water at the ground level rather than overhead using sprinklers.<\/p>\n

Fertilizing<\/h3>\n

Compost<\/a><\/strong> makes the best fertilizer for buttercup squash.<\/p>\n

Be sure to mix some well-rotted compost into the soil before planting, and add a side dressing of compost once or twice during the growing season as well.<\/p>\n

A couple of handfuls per plant will do the trick.<\/p>\n

Cultivars to Select<\/h2>\n

Ready to select which type of buttercup squash to grow in your garden?<\/p>\n

Here are some good options:<\/p>\n

Bonbon<\/h3>\n

An All-America Selections winner in 2005, \u2018Bonbon\u2019 has orange colored, sweet flesh with a creamy texture.<\/p>\n

Fruits weigh four to five pounds and are born on highly productive plants in 95 days after sowing or transplanting.<\/p>\n

Burgess Buttercup<\/h3>\n

\u2018Burgess Buttercup\u2019 is the original buttercup squash cultivated in North Dakota as a sweet potato substitute.<\/p>\n

This open-pollinated variety is a cross between \u2018Quality\u2019 and \u2018Essex Hybrid,\u2019 two turban squash cultivars.<\/p>\n

\u2018Burgess Buttercup\u2019 is a vining type that produces harvestable fruit in 95 days.<\/p>\n

Fruits weigh three to five pounds each and have richly flavored flesh that is a deep orange hue.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Burgess Buttercup\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find \u2018Burgess Buttercup\u2019 seeds in a variety of packet sizes at High Mowing Organic Seeds<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Butter Belle<\/h3>\n

\u2018Butter Belle\u2019 produces two- to three-pound fruits on high-yielding, semi-bush plants.<\/p>\n

Fruits have delicious orange flesh and are ready to pick in 90 days.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u2018Butter Belle\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find \u2018Butter Belle\u2019 seeds in an array of packet sizes at True Leaf Market<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/h2>\n

In addition to the simple fertilizing approach mentioned above, the other two maintenance tasks for this crop are weeding and mulching.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Weeding<\/a><\/strong> is particularly important when plants are young and trying to become established. Once they take off, they will be able to hold their own against weeds.<\/p>\n

One thing that can help keep weeds at bay is a light layer of mulch<\/a><\/strong> around the plants.<\/p>\n

Pests and Disease<\/h2>\n

If you have the sun, water, and soil needs under control, there are two problems that can get in the way of an abundant buttercup harvest \u2013 pests and diseases.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need to watch out for:<\/p>\n

Pests<\/h3>\n

While beneficial insects abound, there are other bugs out there that can get in the way of us growing our own food.<\/p>\n

Check your plants for these problematic insects:<\/p>\n

Aphids<\/h4>\n

Aphids are tiny, but they can cause big problems. They feed directly on the foliage of plants, so check stems and leaf undersides.<\/p>\n

Learn how to deal with aphids here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Squash Bugs<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n