Pinching Out butternut Squash/Pumpkins

[AussieInFrance]

Hi Everyone
I bought some Butternut Squash seeds online and theyve germinated fine in my heated propagator (i live in France so dont worry, its not too early here!). Trouble is, ive lost the instructions and theya rent in my veggie book so does anyone know how i pinch them out to stop them taking over the veggie patch and to produce max yields?
thanks for any help!
Aussie

[Matt.]

I'm not aware that you should pinch out squash. Certainly when growing giant pumpkins its advised to only teminate a vine once you've got the fruit set and established. You won't get new fruit form from a vine that has been terminated. ALso when you do terminate a vine bury the end and it will come part of the root system feeding the plant from both ends.

My advice would be to let your plants grow without interference. When you have got several fruit set then consider terminating shoots or probably just removing new immature females. That way the plant can focus its efforts into the few it has got. You could consider removing side vines as they grow but you can get fruit here and this is perhaps the best way to get bushy plants you're after?

How many fruit is acceptable is your call. Some say six per plant but I managed only two last year. As you're in a warmer climate you may do better.

[TonyF]

Where in France are you Aussie (may be an idea to put a location on your profile) because it certainly is far too early to put squashes out atm, especially with the weather the way it is now.

Get a late frost like we had over most of the country last year and they're gonners.

One of my French gardening mags (Les Cahiers du Potager Bio) suggests that they should be pinched out, along with melons, courges in general being pinched out after two leave beyond the flower, July/August.

May be a French thing tho and again, depends on where you are.

[Matt.]

One of my French gardening mags (Les Cahiers du Potager Bio) suggests that they should be pinched out, along with melons, courges in general being pinched out after two leave beyond the flower, July/August.

Yes I agree with that but to be clear you only pinch out after the plant has set fruit. The idea about pinching out after fruit set is to concentrate the efforts into growing and ripening rather than setting new females.

If you go before you may not get anything as the plant will stop growing!

[savva0122]

I'm hoping to use pumpkin and squash to kill off some of the overgrowth on my plot... do you think this is a good idea and if so should I pinch them off (looking more for the plant to grow and spread rather than fruit)

I have started off in a heated propagator 6 pumpkins and 5 sqaush

[Matt.]

I'm hoping to use pumpkin and squash to kill off some of the overgrowth on my plot... do you think this is a good idea and if so should I pinch them off (looking more for the plant to grow and spread rather than fruit)

I'm not convinced you'll have a lot of success. Sure the squash will grow faster than the existing vegetation but it won't kill it off or clear the plot for you. I found that tougher weeds like nettles will grow in and around the squash quite happily. I'd also give your squash a helping hand by clearing a patch to get them started.

As far as pinching goes if you want the biggest plants don't pinch.

[womble]

I would cover the area you want to be suppressed with whatever you have, cardboard, weed fabric and plant through holes you leave in it. The pumpkins etc will cover the material and make it look nice and you will get some crops as well. Next year the ground should be much more weed free and easier to cultivate.
If you put cardboard down, put at least a couple of layers and keep an eye on it to make sure it hasn't rotted down and let the weeds come through, you might have to add some more at the start of the winter to last through it.

[Flummery]

I've never pinched them out either. I'm a great believer in leaving well alone!