Butternut Squash - Pick out top of plant?

[StevePerth]

The seed packet I have says to pick out the center/top of my butternut squash plant once 5 big leaves have established, however none of my veggie books mention this.
Can anyone advise if I should do this or should I just leave the plant to grow as it likes?


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[chris]

It'd be just to encourage bushy growth - they're vines so will grow long vines regardless.

I never do, nor do I stop mine - but then I prefer smaller, but more squash

[Bren In Pots]

Steve I leave my squash to roam were they want to.

[Fleurisa]

I've never heard of doing that

[hamamelis]

One of my old veggie books recommends that too- I never bother though.

[BertieFox]

It's exactly the same principle as 'stopping' melon plants or any other trailing cucurbit. By taking out the growing point of the main shoot you promote more sideshoots which in turn will bear more flowers, male and female, likely to be pollinated at the same time. That way you should get more and better fruit at the same time, as being pollinated together, they should reach approximately the same size. It also slightly reduces the space which you have to grow them in and prevents extensive trailing in one direction. It's particularly helpful if you want to train them vertically on a wigwam or similar vertical support.

[ancee]

Think I'll try it on a couple next year and compare them

[marcofez]

I've tried both ways this year and found you get bigger squash not pinching out. So I will keep trying both ways as I like the different sizes for different meals!