[RJR_38]

I had given up on my 2 butternut squash plants as all my other squash had fruited and were doing well and although my butternuts were taking over the world there were no female flowers and nothing was setting. I go down to the plot after 9 days and find 3 or 4 of these today:





The plants still look very healthy and green so I am unsure whether these will be able to grow and harden off in time. I don't mind if they are small but do you think these will get to a stage where they are edible or is it too late now? What can I do to give them the best possible chance?

[Salmo]

Depends on the weather.

Butternuts seem to have been a great disappointment generally this year. Mine have done even worse than yours. I chose Hunter as they were supposed to have been bred for our climate. All the other squashes are brilliant. Three Hunters have produced just 2 fruits about the size of yours.

For years butternuts have been unreliable and we have blamed it on the fact that our climate is marginal for them. Now I just wonder if they are worth continuing to grow.

[ghost61]

Best year ever on our site. Absolute whoppers being harvested by many, weighing in at over 5lb a piece and about 10 to each plant.

[Fairy Plotmother]

  My butternuts are whoppers this year. I haven't harvested any yet but the yield will be far and away better than I have managed before. I wish there was a prize for the biggest butternut.... I might have a chance 

[RJR_38]

The other ones I have seen on the plot are quite small but are changing colour. I can't really compare as I wasn't here last year though.

This variety is Waltham from real seeds which is meant to be an early and productive cropper  what varieties have you down fairy plotmother and ghost?

[ghost61]

I grow Butterboy.

[Fairy Plotmother]

Mine are Avalon.... I can't take much credit for them as I have only planted them, watered them and fed them now and again. I'm certainly no expert but my plot neighbours seem to think My squash take all the credits at our site. Well pleased with that.

[8doubles]

You can eat b/nuts at any stage but they do not have the same flavour as a ripe one !

Halved and baked in veg stock with onions and toms and finished with a bit (lot) of grated cheese on top was my way of using any little `uns !

[8doubles]

You can eat b/nuts at any stage but they do not have the same flavour as a ripe one !

Halved and baked in veg stock with onions and toms and finished with a bit (lot) of grated cheese on top was my way of using any little `uns !

Looks likes yours will ripen but the may not store as well as the larger ones.

[AlaninCarlisle]

I've just decided that the babies on my outdoor butternuts will never make it and pulled up the plants. By contrast, the same variety  (can't recall the variety) in the polytunnel have produced some whoppers. Haven't weighed any yet but a couple are about 15 inches long and about 8 inches diameter

[RJR_38]

You can eat b/nuts at any stage but they do not have the same flavour as a ripe one !

Halved and baked in veg stock with onions and toms and finished with a bit (lot) of grated cheese on top was my way of using any little `uns !

Looks likes yours will ripen but the may not store as well as the larger ones.

That's fine - storage won't be a problem as we love squash so they won't last long. I will continue to feed them and pray then

[AlaninCarlisle]

You should be fine in the South. I just know that up here in the Frozen North my babies will never see adolescence let alone adulthood

[Nikkithefoot]

Depends on the weather.

Butternuts seem to have been a great disappointment generally this year. Mine have done even worse than yours. I chose Hunter as they were supposed to have been bred for our climate. All the other squashes are brilliant. Three Hunters have produced just 2 fruits about the size of yours.

For years butternuts have been unreliable and we have blamed it on the fact that our climate is marginal for them. Now I just wonder if they are worth continuing to grow.

I have mentioned this on another thread, but try growing something called Jumbo Pink Banana. It (IMHO) is much more reliable than butternut, cooks in a very similar fashion, and the fruits are gihuge. Even last year when pretty much everything esle turned its toes up I managed 2 good sized fruits.
This year I planted out 2 plants and have got at least 6 fruits that I can see under the foliage with more still growing. One fruit will do 2 meals for 5 of us (certainly when roasted).
I love them and will grow possibly 4 plants next year.
Beware though they are somewhat rampant and the leaves are bigger than butternuts.

[devonbarmygardener]

My very first year on the plot I grew butternuts and had loads of them :happy:
Every year the harvest got less until for a couple of years I had none at all.
Now I'm trying different squashes and have had a bit more success although this is probably due to the better weather we've gad this year

[surbie100]

I have none this year (grew Avalon and Hunter). My newbie neighbour has 2 plants and 6 huge butternuts - must ask what variety!