Butternut Squash...

[bluemidget]

Hey ho again! Finally got the green house up and running a bit ago and so far so good - toms, peppers, chillis all doing well

my question is this...
for a laugh I sowed some butternut squash as the better half likes 'em. Well blow me down they've shot up! Trouble is I've no land to plant 'em in! Anyone know what I should do? I imagine they grow pretty big judging by the veg itself so I guess pots are out of the question?

Thanks very much guys 'n' gals

[Tracey]

Hello Bluemidget

You can grow butternutsquash over something. I've been told about someone growing their's up a hedge and I'm growing mine up a and over an arbour.

Good luck

Tracey

[snuffer]

Butternut

Hello there Bluemidget. Yes, butternut do grow into quite big plants, a lot like pumpkin. I don't think they'd do very well in pots. Even if you had a big pot the plant would still need lots of room to creep over.

It might be an idea to try growing them up some kind of support like a cane wigwam, at least that would reduce the floor area needed. I'm not sure if this would work but I have seen people growing pumpkins in this way so I don't see why it shouldn't. Keep tieing the plant in and support the fruits in nets to stop their weight pulling them free of the plant. Must be worth a try if you can find room for the wigwam.

Another idea might be to allow the butternut to grow along side and in amongst another crop. Do you grow sweetcorn ? That would be the obvious candidate. Again I have seen others do this with their pumpkins so it should work.

[Matt.]

They do grow big but would do ok in a big pot. Maybe you would have to keep the vines trimmed which would mean a smaller crop - maybe one or two per plant only.

[bluemidget]

Hmm, some things to be thinking about there. Many thanks one and all