[Runnerbean]

I have three butternut squash plants on my allotment which seem intent on taking over about half of my plot!  Is there anything i can do to contain them as i would like to use some of the space they have claimed to grow some winter veg in.  I don't want to drastically chop them back as my daughter loves butternut squash and we have loads of them growing at the moment.
Can i build a frame and get them climbing as they look like climbers, and can i still do this at this time of year?
Does anyone have any advice as to what i can do with these monsters?
Im getting desperate, they are growing so quickly i keep thinking they are going to grab my leg and pull me in if i stay still for too long!! :!:  :!:  :!:

[orfy]

Please make sure you feed it the correct food.

If you feed it the wrong stuff it can be dangerous.

[Yabba]

She'll never eat all that :|

¥

[gobs]

Prune them, even though it might be late, it's autumn next time you look.

[Runnerbean]

I love the pic!!    
What do you feed them to get them to do that?  I am thinking that would be a great guard dog, sorry, guard plant for the plot!!! I wouldn't see the light fingered neighbour again          

[Noah'strolly]

They do climb well. I planted two in a composter full of manure on the edge of my plot. I thought they'd trail down the side but instead one made its way along the neighbour's fence and the other discovered, and took over, the bean netting I'd errected and sown climbing french beans under!

[lotstodo]

hi runnerbean, i'm a newbie got our allotment this end of may, so this is my first year of growing and I'm having the same problem.  I've read that you can pinch them out like pumpkins but haven't tried it yet. The plants seem to of merged into one huge mass of leaves. Think I planted out my winter cabbage too close; although at the time they were about 2-3 meters away! On the plus side the cabbages are being left alone, maybe the butterflies can't see them!

[janeheritage]

I love butternut too, but I am sure the plants are the original Triffids. Grow like the clappers and they sting you when you try to cut them back.

The good news is you can contain them. Here's two ideas for starters:

* give them frames to climb over. They have to be strong to bear the weight of the vines and squashes (my husband made ours out of sturdy hazel branches) but they actually help get sun to the fruit and keep the mouses away.

* Once they've set a fair number of fruit each, prune back their long stems to the fruits. This will give them the chance to concentrate.

Enjoy them. I have any number of good recipes for butternut if you have a glut!