Butternut or Butternot

[Jelliebabe]

Hi Guys!

I have a Butternut squash that is literally OUT OF CONTROL! I look at it every day, and every day its bigger! It has at least 8-10 tiny fruit on it, one has just flowered and a few others coming on. It has about three growing tips. Should I leave it to ramble on as it would in nature, or should I pinch the tips out to stop the plant and put energy into the fruit??? I grew this from a seed saved two years ago from a squash from ASDA!

[Pies]

Just let it do its thing,cos its going to get alot lot bigger yet Don't be surprised if some of the fruit die off, that will be due to poor pollination

[Jelliebabe]

I've already got busy polinating that fruit above with a courgette male flower! Don't want to leave anything to chance!

[salilah]

On my potimarron, I tried manually pollinating but it didn't work :-(
However after the main stem had gone out the bed, over the woodpile, round in a circle, and back over the woodpile, I finally have one (and fingers crossed 2) that have been pollinated! So - yes, I'd leave it also until certain (I've had to cut off at least 6 that didn't get pollinated, and can't reach the next 4 as they are round the back of the woodpile!)
S

[cazp]

I have about 5 fruit on mine. The first went yellow prematurely and developed brown patches then dropped off - the next biggest is going a little yellow so I hope the same fate doesnt become of it. The remainder are still greenish. Some of the leaves are slightly yellow - why would this be, anyone know?

[Pies]

The leaves turn yellow and die of as the season gets later,normally not a problem as its usually the old ones that go first

[Sanjo]

I grew butternuts for both myself and my daughter's family. All the same seeds, sown at the same time, although due to lack of space mine are in large bottomless pots which only went into the ground (still in the pot) after the spuds came out. They were, and still are, very green and healthy looking and growing up the canes in the pots. I was so pleased with mine as I have tiny little fruits on them. However, I saw my daughter's ones this week and I am stunned. The fruits are almost full sized and loads of them. I planted them in the ground for her, six to a bed, not knowing any better. She has been too ill to look after them (was being treated for cancer and is now recovering from surgery) and nobody else had the time. They got watered when any one remembered but that was it. To think of the care I have lavished on mine, ungrateful things!!

[Nicos]

I've already got busy polinating that fruit above with a courgette male flower! Don't want to leave anything to chance!

really?

They'll make interesting babies!!!!

[Jelliebabe]

really?

They'll make interesting babies!!!!

I read on here just the other day that you can polinate any curcurbit with any other! I will still get a butternut squash fruit now, but the seed it makes could be a mix of courgette/butternut squash!!! Cool eh?!?!