[queenb]

Help! i dont know when to harvest my butternut squash... i have at least a dozen on my plants , they are all about a foot long  but they are green! i thought they are suppose to be orange colour...do i harvest them  now and let them ripen on window sill?

[Sue33]

leave them on the plant, they won't be ripe for a couple of months yet and yes, they will turn orange....

[queenb]

Thanks for that advice sue33  much appriciated x

[Kleftiwallah]

Don't cut the stem too short.  If you can, cut the main stem about three inches either side of the stem that leads to the squash.  Wait untill it is dry then use this stem to hang the squash from the shed rafters.       Cheers,    Tony.

[cricketwidow]

As of today 7th August my butternut squash has flowers coming, but none yet, I have not grown these before so I don't know what to expect, they are very healthy loads of leaves and trailing everywhere.  HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

It's been an odd year and many plants are slow off the mark.  I wouldn't worry too much. 

[Old Tom]

Thanks for that. I`m still waiting for the first flower to open.

[Squibbs]

My butternut squash in the polytunnel (so usually a few weeks ahead of most) are only just flowering and I have no definite fertilised fruits yet.

I'm not worried yet - though in a couple of weeks that may change!

[Paul Plots]

Mine are so far behind this year. I have two small fruits developing - we need more sunshine.

Only harvest them right at the end of the season when the skins are solid and orange. That way the will keep well.

We still have one left from last year's crop - It was a good year last year. 

[cricketwidow]

If my butternut squash are green and not yellow yet, will they ripen if they are cut as I have a couple that are quite large.

[mumofstig]

I'd cover them with some fleece and leave them as long as you can before cutting, as the longer on the plant the better they taste.
You can cut and ripen them indoors on a windowledge, if they can't stay outside, but won't taste as good.

[Sue33]

whereabouts are you cricketwidow?  You should definitely get them up before a frost, some of mine are still a bit green and i'll be covering them as mumofstig suggests if we get a frost but hopefully they should ripen in the next couple of weeks.

[cricketwidow]

[Hello All

I live in Cornwall to the person who asked I can't find the thread now, computer is on a go slow, but I will do as you advise and cover my squash with fleece, I have a lot trying to come and not getting very big would it be advisable to just cut these off and not bother as it is getting a little late in the season, thank you one and all for all your help.