[heygrow]

It's the squash that's slow not the question 
I grew some butternut squashes from seed and planted out in grow bags in a protected area under side covered driveway back in early May. They are compact variety 'butterbush F1'. Despite growing well to seedling stage, once planted they just sat, sulked and did not do much until a couple of weeks ago. Probably the colder weather did not help. Now they are growing well, but are only just developing flower heads (not in flower yet).

Question. Will these be too late to develop fruit to harvest? Packet says they should be ready for harvest Sept/Oct, but they don't seem on course for that unless they get a move on pretty quick!

Not grown squashes before, so any advice appreciated. Thanks.

[DD.]

Squash do that. Mine are always slow. They'll suddenly take off when they're ready.

[heygrow]

Thanks for the encouragement DD. Hopefully they will develop fruit some time soon.
How long does it generally take for the squash to fill out once it starts to form? I guess they're not quick like courgettes?

[New shoot]

They are not as fast as courgettes - not much is to be honest - but they do grow pretty fast.  I water mine at first to get them going, but DD is right, they suddenly take off and grow like triffids.

I chuck a few handfuls of pelleted chicken manure over them over few weeks and that's about it 

[Fairy Plotmother]

Exactly how mine are behaving. I had a look this morning and they are just about yo take off with a vengeance.

[New shoot]

Last time I checked mine, they had a few baby fruits setting, but still lots more flowers coming. 

If you think you are running out of time, stop the ends of the vines, so the plant puts all its energy into the fruit it has, rather than make more and more.  The fruits need to ripen as much as possible if you want to store them, but I leave mine as long as I dare.  If need be, cover the fruit with fleece or nets tunnels to offer some extra weather protection.  I've harvested squash well into October before now, so plenty of time yet heygrow 

The end of season squash safari through the fading foliage is always something I look forward to.

[gypsy]

Mine seem to have only male flowers 

[devonbarmygardener]

My squashes have only just taken off - they will have a massive growth spurt - Guinness makes a good feed for squashes and pumpkins if diluted 

[gypsy]

My squashes have only just taken off - they will have a massive growth spurt - Guinness makes a good feed for squashes and pumpkins if diluted 

What is in Guinness that is beneficial for squash plants?

[azubah]

Probably the alcohol.

[Flowertot]

I find butternuts are always the slowest for me. This year is no different. I have small squashes forming on other varieties but the butternuts haven't even flowered yet. Don't worry.

[LotuSeed]

Mine seem to have only male flowers 

I have what I think is a pumpkin growing in my front garden. Leaves easily a foot across, nice, healthy looking plant. Problem is, so far it's been an all male party! I think I read somewhere that it's pretty common for male flowers to develop first, and the females appear once the plant is big enough to support the fruit development. It can be a frustrating wait!

[surbie100]

My experience is that butternuts are the slowest squashes to grow. Mine don't usually kick in till late August/early September and then it's a race to see if they get big before the frosts come! If you have green fruit at that point they DO ripen off the vine on a sunny windowsill. They won't have as good a flavour as if they had been ripened on the vine, but they are still pretty good.

Most of my early planted ones are kicking off now, My Black Futsus seem to have the opposite problem to the others, lots of female flowers and hardly any male ones. 

[heygrow]

Thanks for all the replies. It has reassured me as I thought there was something wrong with mine.
That's what I love about this forum and good to know others experience the same issues. 

[fatbelly]

My Crown Prince squash is on strike, it germinated fine & was planted out around the 10th June and has hardly budged since.