Butternut Squash up North.

[real food]

Having had problems growing Butternut Squash in the Glasgow Area, this Summer I took part in a National trial growing early maturing varieties.
One was Butternut Sprinter, which did not produce any useable crop. The other variety was still un-named, and produced 1 and a half Butternuts from 2 plants.
I grew them in a sheltered South facing bed.
I am curious to know how far North, others have managed to succeed growing Butternuts, out in the open ground.
Next year, I might try growing them under polythene.

[real food]

[mc55]

they grew fine for me (Sheffield) and my mum too (North Yorkshire).  All plant outside, bit of manure, watered regularly.  No special feed or molly-codling. I got about 20 fruit from 5 plants - had lots more forming, but were too late in season.

[saddad]

I'm further south in Derby and had no joy even with one in a poly... more my inadequacies than plant though as others on the site have managed them outside!
;D

[glow777]

grew fine for us in Buxton last year - just south of Manchester 35 miles North of saddad but high altitude(100ft).

however I think this was down the amazing summer we had rather than variety and expertease,

if I was to plant squashes again (and i will be doing) I will probably plant more Queensland Blue (seeds from this forum, supersprout i think!) they romp on producing whopping great big squashes that taste great

Glo

[saddad]

Think you missed a Zero there Glow... Buxton is a thousand feet up!
;D

[manicscousers]

grew fine here, golborne, warrington, got 7 off 3 plants but they were a bit short of water and the weather was cr*p, too cold, too wet, followed by too dry and very hot !!, we did fleece them when small, again, more small ones as the weather improved but too late to carry on. :)

[glow777]

Think you missed a Zero there Glow... Buxton is a thousand feet up!
;D

no wonder i'm out of breath walking back home from the pub. At least we'll be safe from global warming floods

:-)
G

[Deb P]

I'm further south in Derby and had no joy even with one in a poly... more my inadequacies than plant though as others on the site have managed them outside!
;D

2005 I tried butternut squash in growbags, no luck at all.

2006, I built a new lasagne bed over a rough bit of my back garden, and they went mad!

Not sure if I will have room for them down the lottie this year... ::)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I think the trick is to keep them warm and damp from the word go.

[legless]

they were fine for me on the plot in whitley bay (near newcastle), i forgot about them actually and then found several good fruits.

[supersprout]

What varieties has everyone found successful in the UK?

[Larkspur]

I'm not very far north (Shropshire) but Cobnut has done paricularly well for me, a reliable half dozen 3lb+ fruit per plant 8).

[cherry]

I'm in Edinburgh and grew Avalon and Cobnut last year.    Both grew well and I eventually got 2 from each plant.  There were a few baby ones that didn't quite make it .    They were very slow to start fruiting so I think I'll start them earlier this year and hope I can keep them going inside until the frosts are past.    Just roasted the last one last night it was delish - worth persevering for.

[SteveJ]

Hi Realfood,
Living in Perth and managed to grow a superb crop of Butternut Sprinters on the plot last season.  Managed to get approx 15 fruits off just one plant with an estimated combined weight of 20-25Kg. Only feed I gave them was the occassional diluted comfrey tea direct to their roots.  Planted through black plastic.

Have to bear in mind that the weather this year was absolutely fantastic, which may have helped somewhat.

Probably beginners luck and next will fail miserably.

Have just eaten the last one - and will definitely be trying to grow them again next year.

[real food]

Thank you to everybody who replied to my survey question. It seems to be quite difficult to grow them outside this far North (Glasgow), probably due to the lower sunshine totals and temperatures. The good results from Perth may be due to their higher sunshine and temperature totals for summer and autumn.
I will try again this year growing them under cloches.

[sawfish]

Grew a few types of pumpkin in my allotment in Glasgow.

[MrsKP]

more weegies about than I remember !  8)

Never tried squash before (so they scare me) and really don't know where I'd put them in the garden so they might have to wait for the elusive lottie.

::)

[real food]

Yes, I agree Sawfish, that Winter Squash or Pumpkins are easy to grow outside in Glasgow, but have you had any success with Butternut Squash?

[sawfish]

I'll give them a try this year.

[busy_lizzie]

Like Legless, mine grew very well in Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear.  I usually grow squash but it was the first time I had grown butternuts last year, and they turned out well. As has been said,  they seemed to love the heat as long as they are well watered and have a heavily manured ground. Will be growing them again this year at my allotment. busy_lizzie