Butternuts

I got my butternut squash seeds in the ground about a month earlier this year, and they are producing much better! In this photo Gus is crouching near the vines, a few weeks ago. There's only enough room in that patch of dirt for the roots to grow; the vines crawl across the concrete of the utility yard.

These are my first 10 fruits, picked over the weekend, sitting on a towel drying from their dip in a mild bleach solution, which is supposed to kill any bacteria that might contribute to premature spoilage. Not quite ripe are at least 5 more fruits, some of which look to be at least as big as the biggest one here, which weighed in at 3+ pounds.