split butternut squash

[tanyatom]

hi everyone!

my dad has a butternut squash plant and had quite a large squash developing (prob 15cms in diameter). He text me yesterday and said it had split and looked like it was crying! Has anyone got any ideas as to why this happened? too much water? not enough? not enough sun? I think he has a few more forming, so doesnt want them to go the same way. Any help appreciated!

Tanya

[Derry]

fruits normally split if they suddenly get a lot of water.. sudden expansion and it just splits the skin

[Millymollymandy]

I've no idea but this often happens to my butternuts. They still ripen OK so don't throw them away - they just look a bit grotty!

[Odsox]

I've no idea but this often happens to my butternuts. They still ripen OK so don't throw them away - they just look a bit grotty!

Yes I agree and I don't think it's anything to do with watering, it just seems to be a fault of butternuts in general.
The split will heal itself and will be perfectly OK .... as long as you weren't thinking of entering it in a horticultural show.

[Millymollymandy]

Oh good I'm glad it's not just me. I often get funny orangey brown scabby looking marks on the skin too - again this doesn't affect the insides.

Believe it or not I still have two butternuts left over from last year, which although they're a bit wrinkled still seem to be fine! I left them cos I just got so sick of them all and have a whole freezer drawer full of pumpkin puree for use in baking anyway.

[Peggy Sue]

Believe it or not I still have two butternuts left over from last year, which although they're a bit wrinkled still seem to be fine! I left them cos I just got so sick of them all and have a whole freezer drawer full of pumpkin puree for use in baking anyway.

Please let me get here, it's my ambition