Autumn’s Golden Gem

My friends have been proudly sharing photos of their home-grown squash successes and meanwhile, I’ve found myself defeated by snails in my attempt to grow courgettes this year (snails 1- Alice 0). So, I resorted to a trip to my local pick-your own to see how the professionals do it! I’m so glad I did. There were squash and pumpkins in every imaginable shape and size, and plenty of my favourite: butternut squash.

I’ve always taken for granted the ready supply of butternut squash in our shops, yet, as I dug into its history, I learned it’s actually a relatively modern introduction. Butternut squash was first developed in the 1940s in Massachusetts, USA, by Charles A. Leggett, who crossed a gooseneck squash with a pumpkin to create a more compact, easy-to-prepare variety. 

In the UK, our butternut squashes were largely imported from places like Argentina, South Africa and Greece well into the early 2000s when they rapidly gained popularity. Thanks to the development of varieties better suited to cooler climates, they are now grown commercially across the UK and British butternut squash are widely available from autumn through to the new year.

Our mild Sussex climate makes growing squash of all kinds a gardener’s dream. But if, like me, you’re relying on shop-bought, don’t worry; we’re truly spoilt for choice! Next time you visit a farm shop, or even a pick-your-own, pick up a British butternut squash and enjoy the ‘smooth as butter, sweet as a nut’ texture that inspired its name.

Butternut squash really is a winner. Not only is it nutritious and high in fibre, antioxidants and vitamins, its naturally sweet taste makes it endlessly versatile in the kitchen. I’m always a little sad to see summer slip away, but I brighten up the end of the season with a simple butternut squash salad; a quick, colourful dish that’s perfect for sharing or for meal prep. With a few tweaks, it makes a great lunch to look forward to the next day. Or you could try my delicious Thai inspired Butternut Squash, Lentil and Coconut Soup. Perfect for a nourishing lunch on a chilly Autumn day.