butternuts

[dingdong]

Hi
Is anyone growing butternut squashes? Ours are growing away and so far are getting flowers but then the flowers drop off so no actual squashes seem to be coming. I was wondering if there is something we should be doing?

[battybird]

Hi Dingdong! We grow butternuts but do absolutely nothing except harvest them! We have to nip off some of the growing tips when they invade too far into the surrounding veg, but other than that I am sure someone has the scientific explanation of what is happening...maybe to do with pollination I think we get loads of flowers and not all turn into fruit. Hope someone answers your query soon!

[grahamhobbs]

I wouldn't be too worried, butternuts often come a bit later than pumpkins. The flowers that are dropping off are probably males, most plants produce these before starting to produce females.
They don't really need anything, assuming the earth is reasonable, but try not to let them dry out (probably not a problem at the moment). You may have done the reverse and given them too much manure (ie. planting them in a huge heap of manure) and then they will make loads of green leaf at the expense of making fruit.
One question, where did you get your seed from, hopefully it wasn't saved from a shop bought butternut. These are mainly F1's and grown abroad and are generally unsuitable for growing here. You need to start with a variety of seed suitable for this country.

[organicsi]

Hi I have a few tiny fruits on my plants but is there still enough time for them to grow to a decent size and ripen? roughly hoe long does it take? they are obviously slower than my exploding courgettes which turn into marrows if I turn my back to get a cup of tea!

[grahamhobbs]

You've still got another six weeks probably of growth, so there is still a chance of getting some small ones if they set fruit in the next week or so.

[Millymollymandy]

As long as they get to reasonable size before the cold frosts start (they can take a bit of light frost) you can continue to ripen them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse for months. They need to be that nice buttery honey colour all over but they can easily go from stripy green and white to that indoors.

Organicsi - As you are in Slovenia you shouldn't have a problem, I've got some that formed ages ago which are the right colour now but loads more baby ones forming and they are growing really fast and I expect it is hotter where you are than where I am.

[organicsi]

Thats the theory about the temp and we have been up to 39 degrees this summer but down to 19 too. Now averaging 25 with plenty of rain so I am really hopeful. I just think I got them in a bit late.We are quite far south though so the days are not as long as the UK. I actually have two plots, one halfway up a mountain which seems to be similar to UK conditions but the other up near Hungary is far hotter. I have very good soil in both places though. Thanks for the reassurance.
Ayesha

[bean gardenin']

My butternut squash plants haven't produced any fruit sadly , but I do have a number of Crown Princes which is very exciting!

(Does anyone else think it would be nice to have some fruit and veg smilies?)

[dingdong]

wotcha everyone!
Thanks for the info. Graham you've got me thinking, do you know you may have hit the nail on the head I don't think I did use 'proper' seed. If memory serves ( it doesn't usually ! )I had one of those 'I will just try this and see what happens' moments. Now I know :)

[Millymollymandy]

Now averaging 25 with plenty of rain

That sounds ideal to me! That would be my perfect summer....

[dingdong]

hi all
Checking out the courgettes yesterday as you do and noticed that the butternut squash next to it has little fruits coming on it! Chuffed to pieces. I didn't think I was going to get any as I used duff seeds.

[Millymollymandy]

[battybird]

I wish courgettes kept as well as butternuts!! Our squash ave exploded into loads of fruit since we had a little rain last week and we WONT mention the marrowettes

[JeremyinCzechRep]

Lots of things can be done with courgettes. Have a look at this book.

[chadspad]

Ive had a disasterous year with all veggies (too hot and dry!) but most sad for me is the lack of potimarrons and butternuts. Although I planted them in May and theyve flowered, Ive only now got some tiny fruits on the plants. Hoping there will be enough time before the frosts come