[LittleRedHen]

Hi Everyone,

Does anyone have any tips about growing Butternut Squash?  I've been given a plant and presumed that it like high water and fertilizer - full sun.  Right?   

[stompy]

Yeh thats right, plenty of water and organic material.

Dig a hole 12" square and deep and add plenty of well rotted manure/compost and then back fill the hole with the soil, then plant on top of the mound and water well.

You are a bit late but then again it depends on the size of your plant, you may get a crop but it depends on Autum and early winter as to when the frosts arive.

Give it a go if you've got the space, you've got nothing to lose by trying.

Feed once a week with a liquid fertiliser when it begins to flower.

[webby139]

Hi there,

Sounds like your doing the right thing to be honest.
Although i keep mine in large cold frame - which i open and close dependant on the weather.
I've made a first attempt this year also with some strange results to be honest.

I've already had 3 squash the size of a coffee / tea cup.  I picked them as they had turned the yellow colour - Very nice though.

But, i only have 1 growing at present out of 5 plants. No real flowers as yet, mostly male flowers at the bud stage.

I'm pretty impatient to be honest - and want more more more.

What knind of liquid fertiliser would you guys recommend

Cheers and good luck,
Web.

[sunshineband]

I use tomato fertiliser on mine, but I know others use comfrey liquid or stinging nettle liquid etc..

I just like tomato fertilser as it supports fruit growth -- 

[webby139]

Hi again,

Please excuse my ignorance, but when you say fertiliser is that the same as tomato feed ??

Cheers,
Web

[simonwatson]

Yes, it is. Once upon a time everybody here knew nothing about gardening and had to ask about it or read about it, so don't worry about asking questions.

[realfood]

You do not normally pick Winter squash or butternuts until the plant dies down in the Autumn. It is only then that they reach their maximum taste and sweetness.

[mumofstig]

You can pick them as soon as the colour changes, you don't have to wait until the plant dies down 
 If there are still some that have not ripened late in the year and a frost if forecast, you can cover them with fleece