Butternut Squash not growing

[Ricardo]

Mornin' all...
some advice please. I'm worried about my butternut squash plants.
I planted Winter Waltham seeds and some seeds from a b'squash that we'd bought. I planted the seeds in small pots in a propagator and they all came up.
So I transferred them to an unheated greenhouse to bring them on until the last frost had passed. I also hardened them off by placing outside during the day.
I did this for about a week.
Then I planted them out into the ground, but in the 4-6 weeks they've been sitting there they do not seem to have done anything. I can't see any increase in size or additional leaves. They are still alive, but it's like they have gone to sleep on me.
Last year I planted directly into the ground (initially under a cold frame) and they all started fruiting too late to mature so I'd purpously started early, but I fear the same is going to happen.
What am I doing wrong? We certainly have had enough water down here in Surrey!!

[rustylady]

Too much water, not enough sunlight and warmth. Any way you could put a cloche over them?

[Ricardo]

Thanks Rustylady, I have some cheapo polythene cloches, the type that give you a flimsey little polytunnel - do you think that would help?

[chris]

Yes, but you'll need to stop them blowing away in the wind!

[Niall]

The problem you described last year is exactly what I had happen, about 20 plants and only one squash (barely). I did plant them late last year though.

This year it is definitely down to the heat, my plants are still in big pots in a poly tunnel and they are hardly growing even in there... we need a heat wave!

[Jelliebabe]

Its just toooooo chilly this year! Nothing seems to be liking it... apart from my lettuce!

[Two_Sheds]

Butternuts are hard enough to grow in a good year: they need a longer hotter summer than we usually get (in the UK)

[Sarico]

sorry ricardo if i write in this post considered that i have the same problem but with pumpkin..
considered that this is my first year for veggie back in november i bought some seeds of pumpkin so i can carve for halloween.. they said that they will grow at 10 to 20 lb in the worse weather... i think they did think how bad is this year so mine is not growing and is only 1 foot long...so what you think i should do? the worse thing is that i bought falling in love with the pic of the pumpkin and is a big max variety
if there is a chance that they will grow i keep it other wise i can use the space for something else ( the space that i left i can fit 10 to 15 flower pots)
thanks for the help

[SarzWix]

I think there is time to get a pumpkin Sarico, but it might not grow to the massive proportions of the picture... I would find some fleece or a piece of polythene and cover it to prompt some growth. Keep an eye out for flowers, as you may have to pollinate them yourself if you have it covered up. As soon as you have a flower set, remember to feed the plant regularly with tomato feed or similar sort of feed to boost the growth of the pumpkin.

[gojiberry]

Butternuts doing alright in South Wales so far and are definitely growing. May be because they are sitting on top of 3ft of cow manure. Mind you that does mean they are exposed to the full force of the wind.

Ian

[snuffer]

Butternuts, courgettes, pumpkins and sweetcorn are all just sat there doing nothing and looking very sorry for themselves. They're just not getting any sun on their backs. I can't imagine the butternuts or sweetcorn doing anything this year but am still hopeful that the pumpkins and courgettes will give a crop.

We really need summer to start. After all it would be better late than never.

[Jeremy424]

My Butternuts don't seem to be doing much either here in Surrey (Harrier variety). Interestingly however, my marrows and courgettes (F1 Defender) do seem to be growing. I put it down to the windy weather that's making it a bit too chilly for this time of year.