Author Topic: How many fruits? (Read 4873 times)

ALAN HOWELL · « **on:** May 17, 2004, 18:51:29 »

Hi all,
How many fruits would you consider to be a reasonable amount for a Butternut Squash plant to carry ? :)....Alan

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #1 on:** May 17, 2004, 21:54:29 »

Alan, I usually get around 4-5 fruits from each plant. I have no idea if this is normal or not!! I am sure there are others out there that will give you the proper norm!! ;D DP

tim · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2004, 06:42:18 »

Don't quote me, but a chap on google got 79 from 2 vines!! = Tim

DaveW · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2004, 07:34:06 »

Last year I planted two Butternut Squash plants. One had 2 large fruits and the other had 9 smallish fruits. Why I don't know but the smaller ones tasted a lot better.

budgiebreeder · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2004, 08:49:04 »

Last year i got the same as Dottie 4 to 5 and very nice they were too.

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2004, 11:33:03 »

So - did you give them the recommended 6 gal water/wk? And a regular high P feed?? = Tim

ALAN HOWELL · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2004, 12:40:55 »

Many thanks folks..I guessed perhaps 4-5 would be the limit,I got 4 per plant last year,they seemed to produce all male flowers for quite a considerable time,in fact I thought I was'nt going to get any fruits at all as it was close to Autumn :-\ ,anyway all ended happily pleased to say......Alan

john_miller · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2004, 13:00:42 »

High P, Tim? K surely?

tim · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2004, 16:32:06 »

Good to have a goalkeeper??

Forget what I said. I was quoting an American adviser. But I since see 2 other 'expert' quotes:
1. High N.
2. Low N

I resign!! Ours will just get seaweed sprays. 'Cos I love seaweed! = Tim

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2004, 16:38:54 »

Mine go in a 12" deep and 12" wide trench filled with manure. (I grow them upwards) They get a bucket of water in the trench every couple of days, and thats all they get!!! ;D Perhaps I should be feeding them more to get 79 fruits! Wow! :o

john_miller · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2004, 00:38:46 »

I would believe the expert who says high N, Tim. With vines up to 4m long N is added as a side dressing here in July just as the plants start vining out.

tim · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2004, 07:11:33 »

If that makes the damned tendrils any longer I shall resign again!!

Doris - that figure was for 2 vines, But I do see (Google again) that, in field trials, they averaged 25-35 per plant!! Remind me what you grow them up??

John - is that mainly because of your longer season??

tim · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2004, 10:18:46 »

Couldn't wait for ideas - checked at centre & found £12.99 per each 'fan trellis'.

Came home, found some old moulding, and .......................is this a bit OTT? Or OK for the real trailers? It's close on 6'. Please - before I commit myself!! = Tim

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2004, 11:54:14 »

Looks brilliant to me Tim! ;D Mine are always rather Heath Robinson, with a frame made out of any old wood lying around,(like a goalpost) and usually by the end of the season wobbles rather precariously :o I make mine about 6 foot high, then cover with netting, or string. Yours looks far sturdier and superior!! I am jealous ;D (currently have a friend looking out for old scaffolding to make something more substantial for this year, but so far nothing :'() DP

allotment_chick · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2004, 15:57:55 »

Hi y'all
Do you have to pinch out the growing shoots and side shoots and things like you are supposed to with cukes?
I just left it to trail on the ground one year and got no fruit at all despite the plant being about 10ft long in every direction! :'(
AC x

tim · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2004, 18:39:43 »

Strange that no one seems to pontificate on that.
And summer or winter??

My contraption - any ideas for improving?? = Tim

john_miller · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2004, 22:44:22 »

I would also like to see someone pontificate about that too, Tim. Here winter squashes are stuck in the ground and pretty much left to get on with it. Pruning off excess or late setting fruit in the U.K. climate I could understand but the point of restricting vegetative growth escapes me.
I would imagine that 4m vines may be due to our climate but AC comes close!

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2004, 22:54:16 »

I never bother to prune mine, but that is sheer laziness on my part! Though I do remove fruit towards the end, when you know they just are not going to make it!!

tim · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2004, 06:29:41 »

Unlike melons, John, where you only allow one fruit per each of 4 stems.

I learn that daughter is growing winter squash. She goes in for variety rather than no. of fruit. In which case, to avoid the jungle, would it be detrimental to chop the shoots when they start impeding your access? ! = Tim

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2004, 10:50:42 »

Thats the beauty of growing upwards Tim, no vines on the floor to trip over ;D

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Author Topic: How many fruits? (Read 4873 times)