Too late for butternuts?

[Bramble_killer]

I sowed some a bit late and they are now 2-4 leaves. There are 3 of them and there's a patch for them to grow but I'm guessing it's a bit too late as they are so small?

I don't mind composting them if I'm not likely to get anything.

[zazen999]

I sowed some squashes last week, and will be putting them out if I can.

Remember last year - it was such a late frost that we could have got away with it. So, give it a try....at the least it will make good compost later in the year. You could stop the plant after 1 forms and let it ripen as much as it can.

[binley100]

I was late sowing last year but still managed to get about 4 or 5 from a couple of plants. I sowed earlier this year but they seem to be taking ages to really get going.

[maypril]

I sowed some a bit late and they are now 2-4 leaves. There are 3 of them and there's a patch for them to grow but I'm guessing it's a bit too late as they are so small?

I planted mine out a bit later than this last year and got some lovely baby butternut (var. cobnut) squash before the frosts came. Well worth it in my opinion!

[greasyfire]

Why dont you just buy squash plants instead or do you like the fun of growing it from seeds

[maypril]

Why dont you just buy squash plants instead or do you like the fun of growing it from seeds

Well judging by the decscription in the original post, bramble_killer's seeds are as far on as most that you'll buy in the garden centre.

[Bramble_killer]

yay, thought i was too late. I only got a mini butternut last year and was going to give up but had some space left so popped some seeds in a pot. now for the wretched cold to go away so i can dig

[LolaLou]

I'd definitely pop them in, I planted in 3 random squashes at the weekend (germination was so touch and go I got a little blaise with the sowing and now don't know what ones they are!) at about the same 2 leaf stage, and I checked them last night and they already have two more little leaves starting to grow, so they are moving on much quicker in the ground than those that were grown on in pots. Go for it, something is better than nothing in my opinion

[weekendwellies]

my sister gave me some butternut seeds. I sowed about 12 mid May. 2 came up, I have put the bigger one out on lottie, left the smaller one for a bit more growing before I put it out. And have sowed another 10-11 this week.

If any more germinate I will put them out to0, as it is more of a weed suppressant exercise than having any hope of getting a squash from them, that would be a bonus.

[binley100]

I was late sowing last year but still managed to get about 4 or 5 from a couple of plants. I sowed earlier this year but they seem to be taking ages to really get going.

Now they are sprawling all over the place and have plenty of male flowers but no females.........is it going to be too late when they decide to produce some ?

[Two_Sheds]

Mine are very reluctant to grow too: the heatwave & drought in July stopped them, and now we're having cool wet weather for weeks-on-end ...

[LolaLou]

I've got 5 other varieties of squash in that are all fruiting beautifully and swelling up really well but the cob nut/butternut that was amazing last year (same seeds) has just thrown out its first tiny female fruit and is miles behind the others (all sown the same time) and one of our 'neighbours' was saying at the weekend that they have 20 butternuts in but not one female flower yet!! Lets hope for a lovely full sunny extended summer to get them ripe in!