Allotments 4 All

I went to the allotment yesterday and I have a perfect butternut squash :D. Its the shape and size of the ones you find in the shops but its still green. Will it turn the orange colour when ready but then grow bigger or cut it off now while its small. Will it turn orange if I cut now?

i would leave it until it turns a shade of rosy pale yellow.
i believe the storage capacity increases if left to ripen on the plant

of course, for immediate concumption cut and scoff ;D

I didn't know you could eat them green. I remember when I first had the lot and we went to view a neighbour gave me one and I left it and left it as I wouldn't eat it and put it in the bin in the end.

The general rule with Winter squash is to leave them until the vine withers...obviously if the weather turns REALLY bad then bring them in. If you want to overwinter, the skins need to cure. This can be done on your windowsill or up the stairs (bit of a talking point with visitors) I had 1 Butternut from last year that was good and tasy after 5 months storage. It would have lasted longer but I got munchy...This year I have 25 excellent specimens from 4 vines to over-winter ;D

All my butternut plants were from saved seed, not one of the plants looks like a butternut! Won't plant them anywhere near the courgettes next year, that's for sure ;D!

I had to harvest a lot of my squashes on Saturday as the rat has been having a nibble again.  The most annoying thing is that it's only after the seed, so it chews up the flesh and leaves it scattered around the squash and then scoops out the seed.  What a waste!  I wish I could speak ratty because then I could do him a deal, you leave my squashes alone and I'll bring you the seed when I've finished with them!   I'm going to try putting more poison down again tonight, but this time mixed with peanut butter to entice him.. I hate to do it, but I hate having the results of all my hard work spoilt even more.

I'm still trying to leave them on the vines as long as possible, but as soon as they start ripening they're coming off just in case!