Whats with the Butternut squashes!

Right so I thought I would try growing some butternut squashes this year, having never grown them before I didn't know what to expect, and I've had some very disappointing results. I didn't have any flowers open until about 4 weeks ago. The first female flower opened last week, and my dad had his first male flower open last week no females as of yet though.
Any ways we both used the same seeds, so I thought maybe it was a bad batch or possibly something we both did wrong, being both our first times. However I just went Tesco shopping and seen some squashes, and damn they were small id say around the size of a large bell pepper.

So has it been a bad season for them or something? how has everyone else's turned out?

 

The ones in Tesco are probably not grown in the UK?
Just guessing. So might be a small variety.

They are a plant that likes it warm, so always going against the weather in the UK.
A bit like pumpkins you need a good start.

 

Had one fruit so far off two plants, wont be trying them next year. I only grew them for fun this year anyway. Had more success with Honey Bear squash, taste the same too.

http://seeds-plants.mr-fothergills.co.uk/gardening/Honey-Bear

 

pete. I never thought to look at which country they are from, ill have a look and take a pic next time im in.

I don't think ill be trying them again ether. I bought what was called an onion squash from morrisons a few weeks ago, it was really good, tasted like chestnut. I think ill give them a try next year

 

First time I've grown them to but mine have gone mental spreading everywhere on the allotment, lots of fruit some of which are really large but still green yet, I got my seed from this years seed swap can't remember variety, I know they like a lot of feeding and I didn't have a huge amount of compost for in the planting hole so I cheated and put slow release granules in instead, just wonder if they'll still ripen?

 

Long cold Spring, so they made a late start (and they are a long, hot, season crop :( )

I grow two varieties - one that is bred for UK such as CobNut or Hunter. I think the fruit on these is disappointing (small, and not as sweet), but it does perform, usually, in our climate. I also grow an old fashioned variety, with much bigger fruit which I prefer ... but ... some years it never achieves in time.

Having said that I had nothing off Cobnut last year, and this year I haven't grown it (just lack of time this year), and the last recent harvest I had off the old fashioned variety was 2010 :(

I think it is worth giving them a flying start - being them on in large pots under cover as late as possible (or at least until nights are reliably Min 10C - all types of Squash hate chilly temperatures), then perhaps cover them with a cloche or something similar. I would also give them a shot of Nitrogen (Sulphate of Ammonia or similar) to get them to start their sprawling growth as early as possible, then plenty of water to support that (and plant them in a hole that is filled with much, or just plant them IN the compost heap). Then hope for a long, hot, summer

 

Dan the man on here has 4 butter nut squash in and has done really well of them he must have 20 fruit and all good size too I will find out what one he is growing

 

Butternuts need far too long a growing season to be really successful in the UK. There are a lot better tasting and easier to get to a decent size Squash. We grow Uchiki Kuri (Onion Squash) and one called Buttercup (comes in different types, all good). TThese have a shorter growing season.

 

how does the growing time of squashes compare to everyday pumpkins? as some of you will know ive been growing pumpkins and have had a decent harvest but sadly no squashes.

ok so on to pumpkins. if they are big enough but still green when the frosts start, do they still have a chance of ripening?

 

Last year I grew 'Hunter'. I had quite a few fruits from 3 plants, they were medium to small in size (bigger than the pepper size you saw in your Tesco though) and had a thick white, pith-like layer under their skin.

This year I have 1 'Hunter' (the only remaining seed from previous year) and 2 'Waltham'. I've got a few fruits growing, as this photo shows


Some of the fruits are very large, also there are lots of baby fruitlets. It's a shame that the plants have grown into each other so there is no way I would work out which variety does better.

On the whole I agree with fellow GC members that butternut does need a very long hot growing season. I found that compared to other squashes, it takes a longer time to reach maturity to start flowering and then a longer time again to develop its fruits. However I do like them so I think it's worth persevering.

 

Must admit, I've only ever grown Butternuts ... so apart from Palustris's suggestions of
Uchiki Kuri (Onion Squash)
Buttercup (comes in different types, all good)
what favourites do other folk have?

 

I'm growing Hawk F1's ...only one decent fruit though....if i'm lucky i may get one bowl of soup from it......it's the male and female flower 'thing' again...plenty of them just dodging each other....

 

In a poor/short summer perhaps they just need "Speed dating for Squash", eh?

They are promiscuous enough swapping pollen ... so they know the ropes once they have got the first round of drinks out of the way

Freeze the pollen and use it next year? Done commercially for many crops.

Use Courgette pollen on Squash?