[Kajazy]

Am I too late to sow butternut squash? I can't believe I forgot! It's my favourite! And one of the few veggies I can persuade my 1 year old to eat!

[Trillium]

Sow it now in pots inside, and when it's hardened off and ready for outside, put some sort of cloche over it for a few days, even weeks. It likes warmth which will give it a big kick start under a cloche. When weather is better, remove cloche.

[Yorkie]

It's worth a try as Trillium suggests, but be prepared for unripe squashes at the end of the season. BNS need a long growing season and we only just manage it in this country. I won't be growing it again as I haven't found the right timings for my location.

[Paul Plots]

I'm so late with mine this year as well and we really rely on it to take us right through the winter as it stores so well.

Mine are up and have their 2nd leaves so I'm keeping my fingers crossed they'll get on with it once planted out.

You've little to lose... get them in and growing. It is really hard to tell what the summer will bring although the prediction is a hot one. 

[Trillium]

One trick you can try is when it's closer to harvest time and the squash aren't quite ready, make a simply polytunnel over the whole plant so it stays warmer, which is what it needs to ripen. I saw one lady who'd made a simple wooden frame covered with clear poly to ripen her squashes and pumpkins.

[mumofstig]

The BNS Harrier and Hunter are bred to suit the UK climate, and are smaller plants, so may be  better choices than the long trailing types.
They seem to flower and fruit earlier than most, so may be worth a try for those further north?...just a thought

[NN2Blue]

It's worth a try as Trillium suggests, but be prepared for unripe squashes at the end of the season. BNS need a long growing season and we only just manage it in this country. I won't be growing it again as I haven't found the right timings for my location.

Put any unripe squashes on a sunny window ledge. I grew butternuts last year and the very last one we ate 2 weeks ago having kept them on the kitchen window ledge throughout the Winter.

[Kristen]

I grow a very long season variety, and only sow mine mid May. I'm a bit further South than you.

I also grow F1 Cobnut and they are Done & Dusted long before my long-season ones, so I think if you picked a variety for "Up North" you should be in time.

Or there might be some plants in your local Garden Centre?  They would be about 3 weeks old I expect, which would "Buy" you some time.

[Kajazy]

Thank you all! Will try both - seeds and maybe a little treat for myself at the garden centre... Well, they have a free soft play area for the 1 and the 3 year olds - that's my excuse, and I'm sticking with it!