$3.95 for 30 butternut seeds. It sounded like a lot when I'd been saving my own seeds for years and could likely refresh my supply at the dollar store for under a buck. But I decided to splurge and try out a hybrid butternut --- Metro F1 --- this year...and I was blown away.

The resistance to powdery mildew meant my vines didn't succumb before they finished ripening fruits. So we ended up with about 200 pounds of winter squash with nearly no work.

Then there's the flavor. So rich and sweet that our pies and soups this winter have been a step above previous years' even though I used the same recipes. Our milk goat gets a butternut squash every two or three days, and she's yet to show any signs of boredom with that portion of her diet. In short, Metro really is better.

The frugal side of me wants to save some seeds and see what I'll get if I plant them in next year's garden. The smart side of me says that, at 2 cents a pound, I should buy another packet of the hybrid and stick to a good thing. What do you think?