squash advice

[raine]

Sorry if i've asked this question before but if i have i cant find it! ( been on holiday for a week and old age is creeping up on me) i have some lovely butternut suashes that are growing Quite HUGE ( in fact all the old lottie holders say they're very impressed ) but... when do i harvest them? Do they need to be orangey yellow like in supermarkets or do I harvest then as and when? Considering that this could well be my only success this year. Please help !!!
Raine

[momol]

Hi Raine,

With winter squash you usually let it on it's vine until the vine died ( or harvest them just before autumn frost come ). The taste will be better if they are let to be fully ripe at the vine. But if you would like to have one of them for dinner, you can always pick the oldest one ( the stalk is much drier than the vine ). Hope it help

Momol

[momol]

Btw, the squash colour will be depending on the type you have planted, some butternut has green peel, some has brown, or tan. Check it out with the seed package ( if you still have them ).

Cheers,
Momol

[Alice]

Raine, you can leave your squash until the first frost and harvest them then. Or you can use them as and when before then. Glad you had a good crop from them. Mine are doing well too. Enjoy.

[Sue]

Momol
Thanks for that note about butternut squash being green, I thought they were all a yellowy colour and I've got green ones with white stripes.
So I have got butternut squash after all!
Sue

[vicki]

so if one snaps off by mistake like one of mine did today is it worth putting it on the windowsill to ripen or do I have to use it right away? Will it taste the same (ish) ?

[Alice]

Not an expert here Vicki, but I think if you want them to store well, you have to ripen them, but if you just want to eat them, get on with it. Why not eat the one you have then give us the verdict. Will be interested to know.

[vicki]

I'll try it and let you know Alice. Have just updated our blog and there's a picture on there if you fancy a look!

[HeyWayne]

I'll be interested to see how things progress too. I was on the plot yesterday (see updated blog) and noticed that I have two butternut's just starting to grow - no idea if I'm too late or not, but I guess time will tell.

[momol]

butternut squashes colour

Momol
Thanks for that note about butternut squash being green, I thought they were all a yellowy colour and I've got green ones with white stripes.
So I have got butternut squash after all!
Sue

Hi Sue,

Not all butternut squash change to tan/ orangie coulour, some are green ( with or with out stripes ). Sucrine de berry goes green ( later in storaged, they slowly change colour ) and the other with green peel and stripes such as Longue de nice, Goiannina... check it out at this seed company ( it is partially in german and english:
http://www.bobby-seeds.com/shop_content.php?coID=8

Hope it help and enjoy your butternut squash,
Momol

[vicki]

I have a few 'baby' butternuts like those too HeyWayne, it was only the one that had grown so big, so I hope there is still time for them! I've noticed that they grow quite quickly once they get going. Good luck with yours!

[momol]

I'll be interested to see how things progress too. I was on the plot yesterday (see updated blog) and noticed that I have two butternut's just starting to grow - no idea if I'm too late or not, but I guess time will tell.

Hi HW,

I think you should have enough time waiting for them to mature. If you have plenty of fruit, do consider to harvest them before frost ( I have read it somewhere that squashes that went through frost will be tasting better but it wont keep long in comparison with those which don't get frost ).
Since I haven't grow any butternut, I have no idea about how long does it takes to fully mature... but in a way, your butternut has perform much better than my Yokohama ( it is also C moschata, a family of butternut). He has only show several female flowers at the size of pea, his first female flower bloom around 3 weeks ago, but it has no male flower .
Time will tell, perhaps I will have to cover them with some plastic to extend it's growing / maturing time,we will see, it is my first Yokohama anyway...
All the best for your butternut,


Momol

[Alice]

Absolutely fabulous looking veggies you've grown there Vicki. Very well done indeed. Hope you get plenty more to enjoy.
I think we've all got plenty of time for the squash to grow and mature. I didn't cut mine til late October last year.

[starwatcher]

I have been scratching my head on this one myself I checked mine yesterday and I have a flower bud. anyone think I will get a squash from this given how late it is.

[Alice]

I have been scratching my head on this one myself I checked mine yesterday and I have a flower bud. anyone think I will get a squash from this given how late it is.

Yes, I think you have a chance Starwatcher. The weather could improve anyday and when they start to grow they do it very quickly. Good luck with the project.