When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Ian_P · « **on:** June 30, 2006, 18:45 »

Last year I grew two butternut squash plants, and got ranging huge plants maybe 8-10 feet across and just two fruit. I was told I should have stopped them so they would set fruit.

This year I have griown the same, but how do I know when to stop them, when they reach

inches, or when x numbers of flowers arrive.

Last year the first flowers all seemed to be male and the later ones female, but again that could be because I let them take over.

Thanks

John · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2006, 23:24 »

I'd not heard this about stopping them but it sounds sensible. I didn't stop mine last year and had about 2 or 3 per plant - maybe I could have had more.

Beanzie · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2006, 23:39 »

I'm growing them this year for the first time, however, I'll certainly follow the advice given.

Thanks

Beanzie

milkman · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2006, 10:43 »

I've never 'stopped' my squash plants, I just let them rampage around. I would consider two or three good size squashes per plant to be a good harvest.

Oliver · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2006, 13:10 »

Quote from: "milkman"

I've never 'stopped' my squash plants, I just let them rampage around. I would consider two or three good size squashes per plant to be a good harvest.

She says DITTO. Sometimes the plant produces lots of male flowers before the females come along, so if you stop the plant before you have any females you'll get no fruits! unless the plant makes some new shoots which it probably will.
For example, one cucumber plant had 4 female fruits straight off and they have all set and made cucumbers. Another plant has only made male flowes so far! The other two have a mixture. So, let them all rampage away - they take up lots of room anyway and keep the weeds down. AND frogs usually live under the nice cool moist canopy and probably eat baby slugs and grubs.

Ali · « **Reply #5 on:** July 05, 2006, 22:42 »

I've been meaning to ask about this for a while. My butternut squashes keep making flowers which then fall off and do nothing. My pumpkin on he other hand made nice little fruits straight away, Why is this? Is it because the squashes make male flowers like my courgettes, or should I be pollinating them or something? And how do I 'stop' them if I wanted to? Help!

Heather_S · « **Reply #6 on:** July 05, 2006, 23:16 »

I've heard that even if pumpkins make little pumpkins, some will fall off while still "babies". Plants seem to be self-limiting in some ways.
My pumpkin plants have only had one male flower so far as I could tell. It's not a very big vine, though, no more than 18inches to 2feet long.

Oliver · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2006, 20:07 »

You are quite right, sometimes the little chapesses just fall off for no apparent reason. She just lets them get on with it. Some plants make all male flowers for ages then start making female flowers as well and you may end up with two or more fruits on a stem. If its quite late in the season she stops the plant (breaks it off 2 leaves beyond the last fruit) so the others will get bigger. If its early, like now, she leaves them to do what squashes do.
It sometimes helps to grow 2 or 3 of the same kind together so the bees can use the male flowers to pollinate female flowers on the other plants.
They may also cross pollinate, but you will only know THAT is you save seed and hope to raise the same thing next year!

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When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Ian_P

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

John

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Beanzie

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

milkman

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Oliver

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Ali

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Heather_S

When do I Stop Butterut Squash

Oliver

Squashes / pumpkins

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