my butternut squashes are dying. i cannot get to see them them as i'm am stuck in hosp (grrrrrr) but mu hubby informs me they are ailing and dying back, leaves and stems. a few weeks ago i did see signs of mildew. do you think they may pick up, or are they and the squashes done for? would the squashes ripen off the plant? i'm gutted , they were doing so well.
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My squashes have done the same thing. I've given up - being further north, they don't have much chance of growing more now anyway. Are yours about full size? If so, I'd feed them and try and keep them going as long as possible. When the plants die off, they'll hopefully have ripened enough that they can finish off indoors.
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Most cucurbits get downy mildew towards the end of the season, but it doesn't seem to affect them. I would get your OH to pick off the worst leaves, feed the plant where it roots and see if you can keep it going a bit longer. Also, if you haven't already done it, putting a dry surface (e.g. an old board or pallet) under the fruit will help to stop them rotting on wet soil. Fingers crossed!
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The leaves and stems will naturally be dying back now. Mine are. My butternuts are probably half the size they should be; I'll leave them in situ until the weather turns bad (or badder)
They need to be started off quite early to get a good long growing season ... this year has just not been warm enough for them.
There are varieties that are supposed to be better in a cool climate, like Harrier, Hawk and Hunter. Squash Butternut Seeds, Squash Butternut Varieties, Vegetable SeedsAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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Originally posted by Demeter View Post"rotting before swelling" sounds like poor pollination?
I blame the rain!!
Grrr.
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Managed to grow just one butternut fruit last year!!! This year same as 2sheds..quite a few on three plants but not very impressive sized, when the stalk turns brown they are ready - leave them till the first frost as a rule. If you pick them unripe they will not store well.
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I found that one of mu butternut's has put down auzillary roots from the vine nodes and so i'm stuck with the damn thing in my flower bed. I didn't even know that this could happen. hey hum!
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Originally posted by Paulottie View Postwhen the stalk turns brown they are ready - leave them till the first frost as a rule. If you pick them unripe they will not store well.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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I checked my butternuts today - they're small, but look like dinner alreadyAttached FilesLast edited by Two_Sheds; 09-09-2008, 05:54 PM.All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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Mine are flowering for the second time this yr. The first time, all the little fruits turned yellow and died. This time, I have 4 growing at the moment (and there are lots of itty bitty ones abt to flower!). Two are definitely turning yellow and rotting away, but the other two are getting bigger. One is the size of my fist! Should I put something under them? Will they have enough time to grow? If not, I can use the space as I have lots of little seedlings waiting for a chance. These two plants are taking up quite a lot of space in the plot in my back garden. Next year, I'll not grow anything this demanding back there.
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Originally posted by marigold007 View PostOne is the size of my fist! Should I put something under them? ...These two plants are taking up quite a lot of space in the plot in my back garden. Next year, I'll not grow anything this demanding back there.
1) cut off the stem in front of that fist-sized butternut, to concentrate the plant's energy into that fruit, not the leaves. Otherwise, the plant will just keep on growing
2) If your ground is wet, put something like a brick under the fruit to keep the damp (& pests) off it.
3) next year, grow a bush type squash like Gold Nugget, instead of a trailing type.
4) or, construct a trellis/frame for your trailing types, so they grow vertically instead of along the groundAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.
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