Topic: Butternut recommendations?

[Jayb]

I've grown a few types of butternuts this year and although I was somewhat late planting out, I think there are at least a few fruits there although it's not that easy to see as they are a mass of leaves still. The ones I've glimpsed look to be fairly different in shape, so hopefully I'll have some different varieties to taste trail this autumn?

I'd like to do a mixed butternut patch again next year and wonder if anyone has had any stand-out varieties the last couple of years?

[sparrow]

Mine's more of an 'avoid' list. I have grown Avalon and Hunter with pitiful results, but have better this year from Waltham - large fruits and a few of them. The pitiful results could well be down to user error...

[Jayb]

Thanks, avoid lists are useful too  I haven't grown Avalon, but had pencilled it in to try, might do a rethink on that one. I'm possibly growing a Hunter or two, labels are nowhere to be seen! I won't be expecting too much from them then.
I think I still have some Waltham seeds though not grown them for a couple of years. Glad yours are large fruited, they have been a bit hit and miss when I've grown them.

[lavenderlux]

I only have a very small area of allotment - less than half a five rod plot, so my butternut squash plants weren't planted out until early July (after broad beans), the variety I have is Hunter and my two plants each have three good size fruits.  Other people on our site who also have this variety are getting around six fruits per plant but their plants went out a good four weeks earlier.  I have grown Hunter before with good results but 'the weather' makes a difference, this year its been a good one for cucurbits generally - one of my courgette plants - which should have been a bush variety but is a trailer has already produced twenty four fruits and there is another four growing fruit ... and if the weather stays favourable possibly more!

[Jayb]

Wow, sounds like your plants are doing wonderfully Lavenderlux, I think better than mine which were also quite late planted. Hunter that's -1 against and +1 or even +2 on those results!

[antipodes]

Yes I have had good results from Waltham, also another whose name I can't remember... Harrier?   Wasn't Hunter, I do know that.
They like lots of organic matter and do tend to fruit later than other pumpkins, so I have found, so maybe you need to get an early start on them and coddle them till it warms up?

[Jayb]

Yes I have had good results from Waltham, also another whose name I can't remember... Harrier?   Wasn't Hunter, I do know that.

Thanks, +2 for Waltham

They like lots of organic matter and do tend to fruit later than other pumpkins, so I have found, so maybe you need to get an early start on them and coddle them till it warms up?

I think an earlier start would be helpful for next year. I'd like to trial several that have had good result with emphasis on earliness and ease of setting and ripening in an average UK summer. I'll add in seeds from any that have set fruit and seed from the ones I've grown this year.

[small]

Hunter works for me, I was very late starting this year and the badger had a good try at destoying my plants, but what were left have a good crop on. They keep well through to Spring, as well.

[Paulh]

I didn't realise there were varieties of butternut squash available! The seeds I have grown for the last few years come labelled as "butternut" or "cobnut".I shall look out for the varieties now.

Anyway, my plants look to be coming on nicely, after a slow start - as with others, because of space issues, they went in a little late.