how much longer will you leave your butternuts on the plant

[astraman1]

one of the old guys on our site who gave me some spare plants has ripped all his out

im wondering if he knows something i dont mine are still on the plants at the minute as the plants are still green

i know about knocking for the hollow sound and the orange colour and hard skin but how much longer will you leave yours for

[Lisasbolt]

Leave them as long as you can, right up until the frost starts to hit. the longer you can cure the skins for the longer they will keep.

[bramble]

Never grosn them, sorry, can't give you any advice, but there are plenty of peeps on here who will be able to advise you.

[marchogaeth]

I'd just leave them on as long as nothings eating them. I take the leaves off above the pumpkins to help them ripen, I assume you need to do the same with the BNS if they are shaded.

[Alison]

I leave them as long as I can before first frost. The only reason I pick earlier is if the plant dies and it can't benefit from being outdoors any longer.

[astraman1]

I'd just leave them on as long as nothings eating them. I take the leaves off above the pumpkins to help them ripen, I assume you need to do the same with the BNS if they are shaded.

yes you do have to do the same to help them ripen but i usually tuck the leaves around them underneath the fruit to raise it off the ground anyway

[astraman1]

thanks for the replies seems best to leave them as long as poss

[vixylix]

I dont have space for them but my grandad has millions (and knows what he's doing more anyway!) - his are still in but he's put upturned pots / seed trays / anything to hand underneath them to keep the fruit off the soil