[Nikkithefoot]

For those struggling with butternuts can I suggest trying something called Jumbo Pink Banana? I have grown these for the last few years and find that they are very tolerant. Even last year which was a fairly pants year for growing I got 2 ripe fruits (not 1 courgette).

I find them much easier to grow. The fruits are huge, on feeding 5 of us for 3 meals when cut and roasted, drizzled with olive oil and honey (as part of a meal). They are extremely similar to BNS in flavour and texture but more of a torpedo shape.

[Annen]

 Quote: "Its even bigger now that pic was about a week ago, its going to be a whopper!   
Thanks Mums, I will leave it till autumn to harvest and see what colour it ends up."

Here's a pic I took today, it is about 18 inches around the fattest part!

[Auntiemogs]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words, I've just rigged up a couple of cloches for them so was feeling quite optimistic about their chances...........until I saw the photo posted by Annen................mine don't look anywhere near as big as that......................skulks off to get a measuring tape!!

Fear ye not Jabberwock, I think that's a standard butternut (at least I hope it is!  ).  Butterbush are supposed to be a lot smaller. 

[mjpalin]

I am growing Butterbush this year. Growing habit seems to be smaller, but I have some squash that are MUCH bigger than I was expecting them to be at this stage given what the packet said!

[Jabberwock]

Aargh, I'm starting to panic now
Measured mine this afternoon and they are 6 inches long............didn't bother measuring around the fattest part cos' to be honest it's not that fat yet........................am I right in thinking that there is still time for them to bulk up?
mjpalin (without wishing to sound rude) how big are yours?

[mumofstig]

There is still time before the frosts for them to fatten up

Most of mine are still less than 4 ins long 

[Jabberwock]

Woohoo!!
Thank you mum, panic over................for now

[sunshineband]

There is still time before the frosts for them to fatten up

Most of mine are still less than 4 ins long 

I still have mainly male flowers on mine    Hoping for a last minute run for the line 

[RJR_38]

There is still time before the frosts for them to fatten up

Most of mine are still less than 4 ins long 

I still have mainly male flowers on mine    Hoping for a last minute run for the line 

Same here!

[mjpalin]

Aargh, I'm starting to panic now
Measured mine this afternoon and they are 6 inches long............didn't bother measuring around the fattest part cos' to be honest it's not that fat yet........................am I right in thinking that there is still time for them to bulk up?
mjpalin (without wishing to sound rude) how big are yours?

Hi Jabber

This is our largest as at last weekend with o/h's hand for scale. I have another 2 that are now almost this size, and then 6 more that are about half the size.

[RJR_38]

Very impressive! Is there a reason squash/courgette plants don't produce female flowers sometimes? I am just trying to work out how I can improve it for next year

[mjpalin]

Very impressive! Is there a reason squash/courgette plants don't produce female flowers sometimes? I am just trying to work out how I can improve it for next year

I think they all tend to produce female flowers (eventually), but i'm really no expert. This is my 4th year of attempting to grow butternut, and the first it looks like I may actually succeed.

Courgettes on the other hand.. i'm at the point of the year where i'm refusing to eat them!

[Annen]

Don't be too impressed though, I've got three plants all together, and that another about half the size (so far) are the only fruits on.  And I hand pollinated those because they were the only two female flowers on three.

[Auntiemogs]

Nooooooooooooo!  Mine have only just started flowering and they've been in for over 2 months now...   Think I'll have to get my 'tickling stick' out to even stand a chance this year...

[Jabberwock]

Wow, mjpalin & Annen those are very impressive :blink:
As this is my first year growing Butternuts they are something of an unknown to me but my problem earlier was that my plants were only producing female flowers to begin with and it seemed like an age  before the males began to appear.
Now, however they are covered in males and I'm just wondering that now I've stopped them a 3 fruits each should I be snipping off the male flowers as they seem a bit pointless now.