Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 18:57

Title: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 18:57
I have about 12 butternut squashes growing in the garden and have heard the forecast is going to be rather cold tonight with  maybe a threat of frost. I believe that you wait until the foliage dies back before harvesting but I also heard that frosts can damage them.
Do you think it should be ok to leave them a while longer as some of them are still green.  Has anyone harvested theirs yet?
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:04
Not sure about the frost issue - seems likely - but my butternut got harvested last week as the foliage had all died off so they wern;t going to get any bigger.
My advice would be to get them in - but I'm a bit lessthanknowledgeable about squash.

Hope that helps  ;)

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: mumofstig on September 26, 2014, 19:06
I'd pick them if they were mine  ;)
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 19:08
Thanks baldy. My foliage is still looking great so am a bit loath to get them in especially with it not being a firm forecast for frost. I might fleece them instead  :)
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 19:09
I'd pick them if they were mine  ;)

Didn't see your reply Mum, oh dear what to do what to do. Will wait for hubby to come home at 8pm and decide then  :)
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:11
Kent and Devon - both quite a long way south(er) than you Ma. and we've run scared  ;)

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:12
Realistically - I can't see that you are going to get much more growth from them now given the shortening daylight...

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 19:14
Yeah true, ok I will go and get them in the greenhouse for tonight. Will they be ok in there and what about the green ones will they mature ok?
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:19
Clean them off and put them in some sunshine and they should ripen up.
(Not a squash expert though... MOS will be back in a minute to call my bluff)  ;)

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Kristen on September 26, 2014, 19:21
I leave mine out until mid October, unless frost is forecast (definitely need to get them in before a frost ...)

My foliage is going over, but there is still a bit of life in it, and one or two of the Butternuts are still a bit green in places.

Cut the fruits with several inches of stem either side, like a "T" (but don't carry them by that as it may not be strong enough), then they want to cure in a warm sunny spot - conservatory or greenhouse - for a couple of weeks before storing.
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: mumofstig on September 26, 2014, 19:24
Clean them off and put them in some sunshine and they should ripen up.
(Not a squash expert though... MOS will be back in a minute to call my bluff)  ;)

You don't need me to tell you what to do, you are doing ok on your own  :lol:
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 19:27
Just been on Met office website and for this area it says there maybe a risk of ground frost in rural areas . I am not in a rural area so do you think it will be safe to leave them as it's getting dark now too  :D
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:28
Yeah - but I keep reading Surbies's squash comments - I'm "just a child"...  :D

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:31
Ma - its getting late - if frost is only hitting rural (maybe) then you'll probably get away with it.

If not and your squash get ruined -   I'm guessing that you won't be holidaying in North Devon next year, and any info. I've given about the location of my allotment was a lie, so you'll never find me....  ;)

Cheers,
balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:32
I'd pick em soon though..

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: mumofstig on September 26, 2014, 19:33
Just been on Met office website and for this area it says there maybe a risk of ground frost in rural areas . I am not in a rural area so do you think it will be safe to leave them as it's getting dark now too  :D

Oh fling some fleece or an old sheet over them and keep your fingers crossed - someone has to make up their mind  ::)  :nowink:

Remember to take it off 1st thing, though.
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 19:37
Ma - its getting late - if frost is only hitting rural (maybe) then you'll probably get away with it.

If not and your squash get ruined -   I'm guessing that you won't be holidaying in North Devon next year, and any info. I've given about the location of my allotment was a lie, so you'll never find me....  ;)

Cheers,
balders

 :lol: :lol: I know where you is Baldy so look out  :D

I think it should be ok and then tomorrow I will set about harvesting them. What happens to them if the frost gets them anyway? Do they go all mushy  ???


Just been on Met office website and for this area it says there maybe a risk of ground frost in rural areas . I am not in a rural area so do you think it will be safe to leave them as it's getting dark now too  :D

Oh fling some fleece or an old sheet over them and keep your fingers crossed - someone has to make up their mind  ::)  :nowink:

Remember to take it off 1st thing, though.

 :lol: :lol: ok Mum I will do that
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:49
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k8zmGMkh4I/T8KuZI8d6KI/AAAAAAAAAWA/LUfUGKVbuG4/s1600/interview+WOFM+seed+farm+Cyndal+010.JPG (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8k8zmGMkh4I/T8KuZI8d6KI/AAAAAAAAAWA/LUfUGKVbuG4/s1600/interview+WOFM+seed+farm+Cyndal+010.JPG)
type stuff...

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 19:52
You can see why MOS is a moderator... very forceful   :lol:
(I'm waiting to see Cadalot's invite to moderate the diaries...)  :lol:
Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: mumofstig on September 26, 2014, 19:57
Not forceful - decisive  ;)

but .................I give others time to make a decision first, before I decide for them  :lol:
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 26, 2014, 20:03
Oh right not looking good there then baldy  :lol:

Mum I am terrible at making decisions so your help is much appreciated forceful or not  :D
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: cadalot on September 26, 2014, 20:16
You can see why MOS is a moderator... very forceful   :lol:
(I'm waiting to see Cadalot's invite to moderate the diaries...)  :lol:
Cheers,
Balders

Balders - Like that will ever happen especially after the toilet humour on the song title thread  :wacko:

OK Ma so where the Bleeping hell have you been, we have all been worried about you as you seemed to have fallen off the planet and you have a bad case of Baldersiters and have not been keeping up to date on your diary  :nowink:
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 20:31
He's (cadalot) obsessed with diaries.. I'm surprised MOS gets to do any gardening as all her time seems to be taken up with keeping Alan under (some sort of) control...
Ma has probably been gardening...
Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: cadalot on September 26, 2014, 20:38
Balders - Thanks for that vote of confidence ...... mate  :tongue2:
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 20:40
welcome...  :lol:

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Fairy Plotmother on September 26, 2014, 20:59
As all the foliage had died down, I harvested mine today and will leave  them by the window of my shed to cure. They will get some sunshine there. 17 kilos altogether. Well pleased!  :D
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Baldy on September 26, 2014, 21:01
Show off  :nowink:

Cheers,
Balders
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 27, 2014, 08:24
You can see why MOS is a moderator... very forceful   :lol:
(I'm waiting to see Cadalot's invite to moderate the diaries...)  :lol:
Cheers,
Balders

Balders - Like that will ever happen especially after the toilet humour on the song title thread  :wacko:

OK Ma so where the Bleeping hell have you been, we have all been worried about you as you seemed to have fallen off the planet and you have a bad case of Baldersiters and have not been keeping up to date on your diary  :nowink:

Alan I've been keeping my head down after another incident on the plot. I won't bore you with the details but it upset me. I hold my hands up for the lack of diary content and will be duly reprimanded for that. We have also been catching up on the garden as it has been somewhat neglected but all is in order now  :D
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: cadalot on September 27, 2014, 08:28
As long as you and Pa are OK that's the main thing .....

I look forward to a catch up and pictures on your diary especially as you have been doing a lot of work down there. At the end of the day you now have a plot at the end of your gated you can walk too and you have been actively working. Ignore who ever is giving a hear time, there is always one or two like that on every site.
Title: Re: Butternut squash
Post by: Ma Lowe on September 27, 2014, 08:38
We have made lots of changes on our new plot and the top part is looking good. Still have lots to do but have to wait for the veg that the previous owners have on there to be removed before we can get stuck in. At least we got a few months to sort it now.