Butternut squash trials!

good news, the little ones seem to be firming up again, I think they just needed some water - I assumed the recent rain was enough oops! They're in a raised bed so I guess it's maybe a bit too 'well drained'.

I have to admit I didn't bother preparing the soil with compost as they were a last minute descision to fill up the space. They don't seem to mind though, and I will be happy as long as I get a couple of edible ones

 

Shiney It is a pity I didn't know about your trials as a member on the Northampton Allotments website I belonged to sent me a PM asking me if I knew how to grow them,as he was trying some for the first time this year,probably the same trials as you.I don't know how he got on with them as he hasn't logged on to the site since the site had a lot of unsavoury postings and I think it put him off the site.We are all suppossed to be meeting up on October 22nd for the weigh-in of our pumpkins that we have all been growing.If I meet him I will tell him about your trials.

 

Well done though Shiney,you have done brilliantly with your babies this year large and small :D :D

 

Are most squashes and pumpkins OK for growing in this country, especially Scotland? Which ones definitely aren't?

 

We've grown pumpkins outside - nae prob!
Had squash in a polytunnel this year and plan to try one outside next year.

 

I totally want to learn how to grow these i love squash! Need to read the whole of this thread for tips

 

good work there shiney! I bought some in a shop yesterday and (seeing the prices) vowed to grow lots this year

did you stop the plants growing at any point (cutting the ends off) or just let them run free? I've a feeling they should be stopped after a certain amount of fruits...?

 

Thanks for that Shiney, it shows that the mods advice, to check previous posts should be followed. Sorry mod will try to do better.
ttfn

 

cheers shiners. see you on this thread in 6 months, and we can compare our crops...

best of luck, hope you get more than last year, and a better crop!

 

hello all
very interested in the info on butternut squash. bought a load of plants at a farmers market last year and when i got home, there were no labels so i had no idea what anything was. i thought one plant looked like a climber so i put some canes in and tied it up. when the first butternut squash appeared, it started to lilt and with each spurt of growth, this got worse ending up with the whole wigwam collapsing in a heap.
i had loads of fruit and all very tasty, definately agree witht the recipe for roasted squash and root veg - highly recommended.
my plants were all quite leggy and i had alot of plant for about 8 fruits. i would like to grow them again this year but dont want to give over all of my garden. will i get as much fruit if i nip the tops of the plant out? or do i just need to clear all the surrounding area and let them run riot?
june.d
not yet clever enough to do pictures, early days!