Acorn Squash

This year I gave my daughter one of the raised beds out in the garden for her own use. She planted carrots, parsley, cabbage and acorn squash. I think we had three squash plants that came up in the hill and they were huge! I had never grown acorn squash before just summer squash and I was shocked at the amount of room they took up. Of course the vine borers got them like they do all my squash but they made it to ripeness before the plant gasped it's last and I harvested about 20 squash. (three plants really)
They were smaller than what you see in the store but I put that to variety. Unfortunately the packet was thrown out so I have no idea what kind they were.. if it was even mentioned on the package.
Anyway, these were the most delicious, flavorful, sweet acorn squash I have ever tasted! I just cook them with butter salt and pepper, but I would wonder if even those who usually use brown sugar would need to with these! The size was great because you could have an entire squash to yourself. Now I know that fresh is always so much better than what the grocery stores have but I was wondering if this is normal for all home grown acorn squash? I don't think I can bear to eat one from the store now. Ruined another food for myself by having fresh! lol
SO.. tell me your experience and favorite varieties and why. I need to know what to get for next year.. also tell me about storage.. how long they keep etc. We had 20 but we are down to one.. boy they were good!

Jazz, I am growing Waltham Butternut squash to store over winter. I got to this new place late in season and didn't find acorn squash seeds. The squash that are Cucurbita moschata are less likely to get squash borers. Acorns are a Cucurbita pepo. I've stored acorns for months in a cool dry basement, and this will be my first time storing butternuts.

This is what I plan for next year, and maybe more Waltham Butternut if they store well. Acorns are my favorites but I always get the nasty borers.

Cushaw Pumpkin
Cucurbita moschata 'Golden Cushaw'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/61083/index.html

Winter Squash - Butternut
Cucurbita moschata 'Greek Sweet Red'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/91929/index.html

Winter Squash
Cucurbita moschata 'Long Island Cheese'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/60840/index.html

Pumpkin, Winter Squash
Cucurbita moschata 'Cow'
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/117977/index.html

I'm jealous of your 20 acorns! Wish I knew what variety of acorn squash you planted. We planted one acorn vine this year to try out. It only produces one small squash, whereas the buttercup squash, trompocino and zucchinis all delivered many squash.

Anyone have recommendations for a good flavoured, productive variety of acorn squash?

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/61072/index.html An oldie but goodie. I do better with the bush types than vining types. Lots of good ones out there tho.

garden_mermaid. I wish I knew also. I can tell you that the seeds were purchased at Big Lots. Not my first choice for seeds but the kidlet saw them and insisted we get those and not other! Hey it was her garden yes?

Farmerdill, someone needs to post more veggie photos in PlantFiles!

Thanks Farmerdill! It is interesting that the bush variety is more productive than the vining type. I usually find that to be the opposite, at least on beans. I'll look for that variety when I am ordering next year's seed.

Agreed, but some folks have a real reticence about putting pictures in plantfiles, even when they posted pictures in the forums. Once in a while I joggle someones memory, but I don't like to do it very often. There are a lot of blanks in Plantfiles tho.