Butternut Squash

[Conker]

We have three compost bags growing on our front lawn with very healthy B'nut squashes sprouting from them.   :D  Do we treat them like pumpkins now to stop them rotting?  We have some straw left-over from wrapping our banana trees up over the winter...is that good enough to stop the rot?

Another question...how on earth do we tell if they are ready?  They are already the size of the ones that we would normally have bought from the supermarket, but I know that size doesn't always matter!   ;)

Thanks

Bob

[Conker]

[Svea]

you dont have to put them on straw if you dont want to. mine certainly aren't and they are in no danger of rotting either as the soil is so dry.

they are ready when the skin turns a shade of yelowish-pink, and the little handle that connects it to the vine goes dry and starts to split.

i would have thought they are ready in about 2 months or so?