A tough (butter)nut to crack?

Hi there,

As a pure experiment, I decided to see if I could do anything with some seeds taken from a butternut squash. I've germinated them for a couple of weeks in the dark, in a john innes compost specially for seeds, and I now have four rather healthy looking little seedlings, which are now sitting inside, in the warmth of our kitchen by a north facing window. I'm making it up as I go along, which probably means I'm doomed to failure.

Any suggestions as to what I should do next to increase their chances of survival...?

Cheers,
Dan

 

I think your BNS will survive allright if you just move them up to a bigger pot when they've grown a bit but it is very late in the year for them and I doubt you will get any fruit.
The plants get very big and can run out 12 feet of length so they really need to grow outside. They will soon outgrow the space on your windowcill. The squash need a long, hot summer to grow and ripen so it's late in the year to be starting them. I hope you're not too disappointed.
You could just enjoy your little plants on the windowcill just now and put them outside when they get too big. At least you'll get to enjoy the big yellow flowers.
If you still want to grow BNS try again in April next year. Good luck.

 

holy cr*p, I'll be keeping a very close eye on mine then-can you train them lengthways I can take them across the cobbles I have

 

You can lead them to go where you want them to go Lollipop. You can train them round in a circle. If they are really too big you can just stop them at the length you want.