what do butternuts look like?!

[Peggy Sue]

Squashes don't like getting their stalks too damp, this can cause them to rot...check the leaves are not the ones right by the stalk. People recommend making a 'moat' around the plant for watering so the water gets to the roots without soaking the stem- I didn't bother and have got away with it so far!

Bit dissappointed as I'm way behind you guys and have no butternut fruit yet. Lots of pumpkins though!

[Millymollymandy]

It means they are getting towards the end of their lives - the end of the season. You should see mine - all my leaves are mildewed and going crispy. I'll be harvesting the potimarrons soon so I can get rid of the manky looking plants!

[chadspad]

I planted 10 butternut plants this year and havent had a single fruit. The potimarrons did better but theyre only small again even tho I dug huge trenches full of wonderful compost. Been a pretty bad year all in all for my veg patch this year. Makes one feel very dispondent

[Peggy Sue]

Chadspad- always plant beans- they make you feel better!

[Mrs Moustoir]

I have just one butternut squash. It's about the size of an egg.

[hedgewitch]

I only have the one fruit on my HUMUNGOUS plant and that took ages to fruit as well.
Must be the year for it...
Oooh..just been outside and there's another wee fruit growing too.

[mrsflibble]

It means they are getting towards the end of their lives - the end of the season. You should see mine - all my leaves are mildewed and going crispy. I'll be harvesting the potimarrons soon so I can get rid of the manky looking plants!

am I going to get my fruit before it dies?!

[Millymollymandy]

I don't know, but if it hasn't formed any fruit yet then it is getting a bit late .......but don't rip it up and put it in the compost yet!

[hedgewitch]

Can anyone advise when is the best time for me to pick my Butternut? Half of it is completely orange - the half that faces the light and the other half, the half that's in the shade, is still green?

[MAdam Cholet]

Just had the afternoon at the allotment - and it didnt rain! Anyway, I found three baby butternuts although they are only about the size of eggs. Unless something miraculous happens and we have a stunning September and October (yeah...right!) I presume I will have to go without again. I think next year I will start them off much earlier and try and keep them going indoors until I plant them out at the right time. I'm sure my son wont mind sharing his bedroom with a few plants - after all the rest of the house will be full of seedlings again!

[Millymollymandy]

Hedgewitch - is there any way to turn your nuts over? What's the state of the plant like? I find I can usually turn them a little bit or when the plant is looking a bit worse for wear you can even take the whole 'branch' and turn it and the fruit on it over.

I've just harvested some of mine but they'll stay ripening in a sunny windowsill for a long time yet but you have loads more sun and heat there than most of us..... it might be as well for you to cut it off and put it somewhere sunny so the other side can get coloured up if you can't do it whilst still attached to the plant.

[hedgewitch]

Thanks 3 M's - I will turn it round today.

[hedgewitch]

GAH!
So I gently turned the Squash and the blinking thing came off the stalk altogether!
So I now have it ripening in the sun. I'm guessing when it completely turns that soft orange colour all over it will be ripe - but I'd rather leave it longer to make sure it is ripe rather than cutting into it to soon and it not being ready.
What does everyone recommened? leaving it in the sun for another 2 weeks?

This is what it looks like now

[Millymollymandy]

Definitely leave it until it at least turns the right colour all over, and then maybe a bit longer - though that depends how many you have of course, cos you don't want to waste it if it is the only one! That looks quite a biggun; for some reason I have lots of tiny ones this year and it's just gone and produced about 5 more when the plant looks half dead..... so I can 'afford' to cut into one and see if it is ripe!

[pumpy]

We've had similar probs this year. Plenty of fruit,but small size compared to previous years.However, anticipating a Indian summer, we are going to persevere & await a good crop. Hang in there!