butternut squash

[claybasket]

I found butternut squash needs lots of space, I decided  to try growing the up on teepee  type canes and tying them in were needed , my Lotty nabours think it odd but am sure there are others out there that have done this, it dose seem to OK with the plant, I just cut the arms off on the plants , and the squashes are coming fine ,I may have to support then 

[claybasket]

[galina]

I have done this too this year.  My butternuts were starting to cross the path, so I trained them upwards a few weeks ago and they are growing fine.  Only one fruit so far, but there are female flowers and male flowers, so we should get more too. 

I haven't trimmed mine yet, but it is said that more female flowers are produced on the sideshoots, it is a good idea when the main stem is big enough. 

[tricia]

I'm growing 2 Hunter on obelisks - 6 fruit on one and two on the other. They are already turning their final beige colour but I will wait till the foliage dies back before harvesting. Have not found it necessary to tie the fruit in but did use clips early on to help the plants as they 'vined' onto the obelisks.

Tricia

[pumkinlover]

I have done this too this year.  My butternuts were starting to cross the path, so I trained them upwards a few weeks ago and they are growing fine.  Only one fruit so far, but there are female flowers and male flowers, so we should get more too. 

I haven't trimmed mine yet, but it is said that more female flowers are produced on the sideshoots, it is a good idea when the main stem is big enough. 

Thanks Galina!, a friend asked me about this yesterday as he has no fruit yet!

[Debs]

I put some home made compost in my greenhouse borders which must have  had some stray squash seeds in it - they are growing brilliantly so once tomatoes are done, I might have a greenhouse full of pumpkin or butternut squash.
Is there any way of distinguishing which it will be ?
Debs

[galina]

I put some home made compost in my greenhouse borders which must have  had some stray squash seeds in it - they are growing brilliantly so once tomatoes are done, I might have a greenhouse full of pumpkin or butternut squash.
Is there any way of distinguishing which it will be ?
Debs

Butternut is cucurbita moschata and most pumpkins are cucurbita pepo.  Most winter squash is cucurbita maxima.  Googling pictures of each, or checking the Wikipedia pages under the latin names and looking at pictures of the leaves and flowers, might give you an early indication of which is which. 

For example if the leaves are scratchy on the underside rather than hairy, it is likely to be a pepo, ie a courgette or pumpkin.  Butternut usually has pretty elaborate sepals (the green leaves on the outside of the yellow petals).  Maxima usually have very soft 'elephant ear type' leaves, etc.  Good luck and hope you will still get some nice squashes, whichever they turn out to be.

[realfood]

 Another indicator of species is as follows:-
Cucurbita Maxima varieties can be identified by their swollen and corky fruit stalks, when the fruit are ripe.
Cucurbita Pepo varieties can be identified by their ridged cylinder fruit stalks, that do not become corky when the fruit ripen.
Cucurbita Moschata varieties can be identified by their five-angled, knobbly fruiting stalk, which does not become corky.

[Debs]

. . . Should I hand pollinate the flowers  with paintbrush? as they are flowering, but flowers dropping off, which             ( I think) may be due to the difficulty bees etc will have getting through the open greenhouse door ??

[Debs]

Please can someone advise me please?
I would like fruits to form but don't know if there is enough time . . .

[galina]

. . . Should I hand pollinate the flowers  with paintbrush? as they are flowering, but flowers dropping off, which             ( I think) may be due to the difficulty bees etc will have getting through the open greenhouse door ??

Should be fine because the yellow flowers are so big and attractive to bees if the greenhouse door is open. 

However - handpollinating is a good idea to make sure on cloudy days.  I assume you have noticed that there are female flowers, with an embryo baby squash at the base and there are male flowers that don't have that.  The easiest way to handpollinate is to pick a male flower, pick off the petals and use what is left like a paintbrush on the inside bits of the female flowers.  You should be able to see the pollen grains easily.  Do this when the temperature is moderate - after it has warmed up following a cold night, but before it gets hot.  Pollen does not like it too hot or too cold.  Flowering now in a greenhouse, there should be enough time.  It could be that all flowers are early male flowers.  Male flowers are normally out before the females and if you don't have any fruit set yet, it may be because you don't have female flowers yet.  Female flowers look very distinctive, you really can't miss them if you look for the embryo fruit underneath the flower (which can be as big as a couple of inches on some varieties).

Just ask, if there are other questions.

 

[Debs]

Thanks Galina - will give that a go. It is like a triffid & taking over greenhouse. Am hoping its a butternut squash as that is my favourite winter veg
Debs 

[jesssands]

I have them too from seeds from the compost bin. Mine are deffo butternut squash as I haven't had anything else. Got a wild patch of tomatoes too, I am just letting them go, see what happens!

[galina]

Thanks Galina - will give that a go. It is like a triffid & taking over greenhouse. Am hoping its a butternut squash as that is my favourite winter veg
Debs 

You are welcome Debs - forgot to say: the miniature embryo fruit on the female flowers looks like the mature fruit,  butternuts are definitely butternut shaped and pumpkins are round, another early indication of what you are growing 

[Debs]

Thanks for info Galina!!
Having looked at flowers, I have 1 large open female flower which I have pollinated as per your advice, and can see a beautiful baby butternut forming YAY !!!!!!!!

The plant is romping around my greenhouse & has many more immature flowers forming.
Should I give it any particular type of feed ( I have chicken pellets? )

Debs 

[galina]

Thanks for info Galina!!
Having looked at flowers, I have 1 large open female flower which I have pollinated as per your advice, and can see a beautiful baby butternut forming YAY !!!!!!!!

The plant is romping around my greenhouse & has many more immature flowers forming.
Should I give it any particular type of feed ( I have chicken pellets? )

Debs 

Good news on the pollinated female flower. Chicken pellets is what I use mainly 

[jesssands]

Just got my new phone up and running so taking some pics to see what its like.

The male flowers:





And the female:





Thanks to ev1 for the info on this, I too was able to distinguish between them. Only have 1 female and about 6 males at the moment, but still not bad for free!! Notice the little tomatoes in the pic also!!!

[markfield rover]

I also grow them up and over and along the runner bean structure  the fruits hang down a treat.

[strawberry1]

I have 5 fruits on my obelisk harrier, 3 big fruits turning yellow. The ground squashes are also maturing nicely and we have cut leaves back to allow the fruits to ripen and most are now turning yellow. We stopped the leaders from growing on as I think 17 fruits from 3 plants is enough. Will grow squashes on obelisks only next year, good result. I doubt any new fruits outdoors will mature now

[Debs]

At the last count, I saw about 5 butternuts but have plenty more flowers so who knows how many  I might end up with - which is brill since they were rogue seeds in my compost !!

Debs