Growing Butternut Squash

[donnakebab]

I have attempted to grow butternut squash on my lottie for the past 2 years but the results have been very disappointing. I have had success with other cucurbits grown in the same bed so I don't think it's the soil condition. I know they like copious amounts of manure and water which I was very diligent about this year with it being so dry. They did better last year than the previous as in I managed to crop a few that were big enough to bother with!

Does anybody have any tips they can enlighten me with?

[Kleftiwallah]

If you could crank up the light levels and the temperature I think you would do better. I'm sure it is the iffy summers we have had these past couple of years that is to blame. Just keep popping in the seeds and keep your fingers crossed, that what I do. Cheers, Tony.

[donnakebab]

I'll have a word with God.

[Two_Sheds]

Butternuts need a hotter longer summer than most other squashes. It's not you. Just choose something more suitable for a cool dull summer (there are numerous older threads on this, but I don't have time to search right now)

[Aberdeenplotter]

I grew my first one ever in my polytunnel last year.

[Thelma Sanders]

Grow something like Uchiki Kuri instead, it's lush

[Pies]

Grow cobnut variety,it doesnt need as long a season as other butternuts Give them plenty of food

[donnakebab]

I've looked back through some old threads and I think this year I'll start them of earlier but in my conservatory (don't have a greenhouse). Keep re potting them as they grow then put them on the plot in June when some good weather is forecast. Might cover them as well if I can cobble something together out of polythene. That should keep the temperature a bit higher.Then do as I always do, plenty of manure to plant in following on with regular food and water and restricting the number of fruits.

[donnakebab]

Grow something like Uchiki Kuri instead, it's lush

Yep gonna look for some seeds.

[Scarlet]

When I plant mine out I put some old windows frames over them to keep them warm. It does the trick

[Normans Mum]

Sounds like a brilliant idea. Will try that.

[Moo's Mum]

I've triedlooking on all the threads relating to butternut squash and can't seem to find the answers to the 2 questions I have, so I was just wondering if someone good guide me in the right direction please.

My strongest squash plant is now a good 7 or 8 inches tall with 9 leaves on it, is it too early to plant it in it's final growing position (a huge 50 litre pot), and would erecting some kind of trellis be a good idea to train the plant up and so help with ripening the fruit?

Thanks in advance

[jono83]

I've triedlooking on all the threads relating to butternut squash and can't seem to find the answers to the 2 questions I have, so I was just wondering if someone good guide me in the right direction please.

My strongest squash plant is now a good 7 or 8 inches tall with 9 leaves on it, is it too early to plant it in it's final growing position (a huge 50 litre pot), and would erecting some kind of trellis be a good idea to train the plant up and so help with ripening the fruit?

Thanks in advance

I myself kept the seeds from one i had bought, planted them out when they were a little smaller than yours, I found they grew much like courgettes and i just put straw under the fruits as the were developing and turned them slightly each day, hope this helps