Butternuts Rotting

[delboy]

My brill crop of butternuts is now starting to rot.

White fungus on stalks, followed by the squashes going soft and manky/

Any idea what this is, and although the crop this year is obviously doomed, if it can be avoided next that would be good, so hints/tips?

Thanks all

[delboy]

[real food]

I assume from your posting that your butternuts were still on the plants. They should have been cut off the plants in September or October and dried off in a sunny, well ventilated, dry place, for a month or so. Then they need to be stored in a cool, dry place where they should be able to store for 2 or 3 months.

[delboy]

Nope.

They were in store.

Really depressing.

And Tottenham managed a win. How bad can things get?

[adrianhumph]

Hello delboy,
                     Sorry to hear about the butternuts :(  Jeanette (the squash expert ;D) recommends wipng the fruits with a cloth soaked in a weak solution of bleach before storing, this helps to inhibit mould growth. You should also inspect them regularly, then you can use up any that are starting to rot. They usually start to go at the stalk, if you spot them early enough you can just cut out the soft bit & use the rest as normal. I have blue kuri & crown prince & hope they will store until March (fingers crossed)
                                            Adrian.
                           

[Rob08]

I have also found that turning them helps (rather like a bottle of wine) as the rot usually starts on the part in contact with the bottom or sides of the storage unit.

Butternuts do not keep well for me as a rule, I usually only store the 'cheese' types and I suspect they could keep for years (certainly for several months at any rate - my last one was in the kitchen from October to the following May before I used it).

[manicscousers]

we hang ours (butternuts) up in the garage in onion nets, they seem to be ok this year, let them set in the greenhouse instead of on the vine, it was too wet to leave them , mind you, we only got 6 off 4 plants  :(

[greenscrump]

I followed jeannines advice but used tea tree oil instead of bleach and all Ok so far.....

[Jeannine]

The bleach works, also it is important to not have them in a damp or warm place, best not touching and not on a concrete floor. Butternuts are what I call earlies in the winter squash range, You will get most to Christmas but most won't go much beyond, other varieties can store fo r many more months.

Another really important point is leave a handle on them, if t is broken off, bacteria will attack the scar faster. If a small amount of surface mould shows up but the squash feels sound, do the bleach wipe again.

Check regularly as you can often save some when you first see it.

They also need to be fully cured before they are stored, if they are not then be prepared to use them up much faster. If your nail won't penentrate the skin they will store, if it dents easily they are not mature.

Enjoy XX Jeannine