[stompy]

Does anyone know of a none F1 butternut squash variety.
I want to start saving my own seeds as they are quite expensive.
I baught two packs last year as the first sowing rotted, but at getting on for £3 a packet for 6 seeds i think is a little expensive.

Andy

[strangerachael]

The Organic Gardening Catalogue have a couple. If you are going to save their seed do you know what to do to prevent cross pollination with other varieties? I think it's been covered on here before somewhere.

[stompy]

Hmmmmm.
I din't think about cross contamination,
How do you stop it?

[DD.]

This (well known picture to many) should have been a marrow.



Short of stopping bees flying & insects crawling, it'll be very difficult.  Cucurbits easily cross.

I suppose you could fleece them & hand pollinate, would give you a better chance.

[stompy]

Ok.
Plan 57b. 
Does Anyone know where i can get cheaper F1 butternut squash seeds from?

[DD.]

Moles seeds.

£2.45 for 50 - will last you a few years, or share them. No postage either.

http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/flower_and_vegetable_seed_store_uk/Products_F1_Hunter_4500.html

Grew these last year & they are superb.

[Steve.B]

I got my last few Butternuts in an unheated green house, just noticed yesterday some are darkening in colour and getting a fungus/mould on them making them soft. Is this because they have got very cold, wrong storage or just that they are reaching the end of their storage life.

[JayG]

My experience with winter squashes (Winter festival) is that if they get frosted as is quite likely this year they will rot (don't keep for ever anyway)

[DD.]

My last few are starting to go - being turned into soup to freeze.

[Glosterboy]

You might wish to try:

http://www.wallis-seeds.co.uk

I have used these for my seed supply. I counted 21 varieties of Squash. All types of course. Butternut included. Some F1 as well as normal. 95p P&P regardless of quantity ordered.

[stompy]

I wash my squashes in really hot water when i get them home, it's that hot that i have to wear my marigolds (blue not pink) 
This kills off most of the bacteria on the surface of the skin, so mine tend to rot from the inside.
I still had one in may last year from the previouse year, it was still absolutely fine and would have lasted even longer if we hadn't eaten it.

I've seen one called winter waltham, not sure if this one will have cross pollination problems?

[zazen999]

It is really easy to save seeds from non F1 squashes.

Tie both male and female flowers so that they don't open as the flowers develop. The next day, take the male flower off and peel away the petals; so that you get the pollen stamen on it's own.

Take the tie off the female and open the petals, inside there will be a [3 or 4] stems and you push the male pollen stamen into the middle. It fits nicely!

then, tie up the female flower again. If you break it [sometimes happens], put a plastic bag over the end and secure it so that no insects can get in, until the flower falls off.

Then, I move my tie to the stem of that squash so that I know which one was hand pollinated; and when I come to eat it I save those seeds and share them about. I also tie a label to the tie so that I know which variety it is.

If you hand pollinate from several plants then you can choose the bestest specimen to grow from net year.

It really is so easy!!!

[Pompey Spud]

Try the Real Seed Company.
All non F1 seeds.

[Glosterboy]

Having never grown Butternut Squash (or indeed any Squash) I have decided that 2010 is now time. I believe that the seed is grown very similar to marrow??? But, that's it!!!! I have noticed that there are both summer and winter variety. What is the difference? How are the fruit stored? An idiot's guide on Butternut Squash would be much appreciated. Anybody got any paticular favourite variety?
Thanks.

[goodegg]

stompy you need seeds tthat are not f1 if you want to save seeds because  seeds that are kept from f1 will not breed true to form because the are new varieties