[Benandbill]

The Sowing & Harvesting Vegetables Chart on this site says now's the latest you can harvest these.  I wonder if I planted mine out too late?  They were planted out middle of July and at the moment they're still no bigger in size than a kiwi fruit.

Is anyone else experiencing this?  Do I need more patience or have I missed the boat?  Never grown them before and the frost will be upon us in no time at all!

[JayG]

Mid July is pretty late for something which needs a long growing season as all winter squashes do (but butternuts particularly so.)

If it's any consolation you are not alone in having a poor or non-existent harvest this year, but you should aim to get them outside at least a month earlier if you grow them next year (weather permitting, that is.)

(Yours are unlikely to grow much more this year, I'm afraid.) 

[mumofstig]

In a good year yours may have been ok, but the weather's really not been good for them this year. There have been are a few topics on here about poor results from squash this year  

Try again next year, snd get them out earlier, under fleece or cloches if it's still cool.



you just beat me to it Jay..good job we agreed 

[realfood]

They should be planted out at at the beginning of June and given frost protection if you are in the North.

[Benandbill]

Thank you all, seems inexperience has got the better of me there.  TBH, I'm am glad I had a go anyway, it was nice watching how big the leaves grow and how they spread about everywhere anyway, v/interesting.  Maybe I'll wait 'til I've got a whole farm before I attempt butternut squash again

[Yorkie]

I've given up on BNS - too long a growing period necessary and I don't have a greenhouse to get them off to a flying start before planting out at the start of June.

[ex-cavator]

I've got four, all about the size of a baseball. Will they be good to eat at that size? (sorry, noob question) 

[Yorkie]

If they've ripened they will be OK I should think

[mumofstig]

They'll ripen on a sunny windowledge, just pick them before the frost splits them.
I had a split one this week, I just cut the grotty bit off and roasted what was left, and it was lovely 

[Paul Plots]

They'll ripen on a sunny windowledge, just pick them before the frost splits them.
I had a split one this week, I just cut the grotty bit off and roasted what was left, and it was lovely 

Same here - I guess a long dry spell followed by rain was just too much. The rest are in the lottie shed awaiting collection.
You can leave them out to finish ripening right up until before the first frosts... Better smaller than none at all BenandBill. Take care with the weather.

[Benandbill]

Thanks Paul Plots and mumofstig.  So even though they're still really small, they can ripen and will be okay to eat?

Oh, well, might give that a go then 

[mumofstig]

They won't be as tasty as a fully grown ripe one, but you can still eat them