Butternut Squash

[endymion]

Ours has sat there sulking until last weekend, when we noticed it's managed to produce two little squash. They're only about four inches long so far.

Will they grow and ripen? If not, what's the best thing to do with them?

[Jono]

Squashes seem to like my plot. Always had a good crop. I plant them in a recess so the water stays in around the roots.

I start picking them when the foliage dies too. Will often pick the bigger ones and store them. They soon ripen up.

I think the theory is that if you leave them on the plant longer, the skin hardens more and they last longer?

[vegnut]

Afraid mine are only small this year also, but i'm sure that they will be just as tasty as the biguns roasted. I'll probably take mine off in the next two weeks and hang them up somewhere for storage, they have already gone that nice yellowy colour.

[endymion]

Squashes seem to like my plot. Always had a good crop. I plant them in a recess so the water stays in around the roots.

I start picking them when the foliage dies too. Will often pick the bigger ones and store them. They soon ripen up.

I think the theory is that if you leave them on the plant longer, the skin hardens more and they last longer?

We've got courgettes and "Little Gem" that seem to have done okay, it's just the Butternut that's held back.

I'm guessing that if the skin starts hardening it's the end of growing, and the fruits won't get any bigger, so they don't need leaves to do anything much.

If we leave them outside too long and they get frosted, what will happen to the fruits?

[Two_Sheds]

They're only about four inches long so far.

Will they grow and ripen?

No, they won't now. Compost I'm afraid.

If we leave them outside too long and they get frosted, what will happen to the fruits?

They'll rot.
British summers aren't long and warm enough for BNS ~ but there are plenty of other squashes that do better in our climate. Choose an "early" sort. Hooligan & Golden Nugget are two of my faves, but there are loads of others.

[Scarlet]

Choose an "early" sort. Hooligan & Golden Nugget are two of my faves, but there are loads of others.

My butternuts were also rubbish this year! I tried Hooligan for the first time and thay have been fantastic, grew them up and over an arch so they took very little space, produced loads and and the kids love them too which is a bonus.

[reetnproper]

I like the look of hooligan and if it'll haappily grow up and over (with support of course) then I may well try them next year, along with my usual pumpkins, cobnuts and I'd still like to try 'Crown Prince' as well.

Reet
x

[Thelma Sanders]

Low and behold.......clearing all the mildewed leaves away and found a hhhuuuuggggeeee ( well about 15in across LOL) pumpkin. One of those in sections like a cinderella coach

The label said it was a butternut...err confused plant, but more likely confused labels

[Newton]

BNS could stand for many things!

My plants lay dormant through most of June and July then went haywire in august.......flowering now! No chance of fruitvthough so the bed is being cleared this weekend.

Got a decent pumpkin though.......just one. I was growing two but the other faded away to oblivion.

BNS......any suggestions? Bladdy No Show

[reetnproper]

BNS - Best Not Sown

Reet
x

[stella]

Never heard of Hooligan squash before, just looked for it on T&M no sign is there another name it goes by, what does it look like?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Pumpkin 'Hooligan' F1 Hybrid - Pumpkin, Squash & Courgette Seeds - Thompson & Morgan

I got some hooligan seeds, and jack be little. Thought they looked interesting, and according to the packet, can be cooked in four minutes in the microwave. The Jack be little, that is.

[bearded bloke]

Never heard of Hooligan squash before, just looked for it on T&M no sign is there another name it goes by, what does it look like?

Here you go hun ............ Pumpkin 'Hooligan' F1 Hybrid - Pumpkin, Squash & Courgette Seeds - Thompson & Morgan

I did cheat though I have a packet here in front of me

[Two_Sheds]

I got some hooligan seeds, and jack be little. .. according to the packet, can be cooked in four minutes in the microwave.

Hooligan about 2 mins in mike, scoop out seeds, fill cavity with cheese, eat whilst trying to avoid burning your throat

[stella]

Thanks, think I will give that a try next year