Butternut Squash problem

[newatallthis]

Hi all

Well I have had a not bad summer, lots of tomatoes some sweetcorn which was gorgeous, loads of lettuce.
Unfortunately my cauliflower and calabrese, was decimated by caterpillars so I have pulled them all up. Getting ready to sow some more for the winter. Hopefully I will do better next time.

My question regarding Butternut squash, is last week I went out and mulched it all with straw, and basically I don't think that was a good idea as I had 13 growing last week and now I can't find any.
I guess I am supposed to mulch them to stop slugs etc, but straw doesn't seem to have worked, any ideas?
Please help, its not too late as I have loads more flowers growing just need to get them past two inchs long and edible.

Look forward to hearing from you all.
Many thanks
Newatallthis

[Chantal]

What, they've disappeared completely? If so, it sounds like your pest has two legs and a pair of "help yourself" hands!

[Ian F]

I fear that it is getting a little late to get anything useful off this season. I suspect that the real culprits were probably slugs, encouraged by the cove that you provided.

When I see something that is starting to develop as a squash or pumpkin etc, I put it in a slate or bit of wood to keep it off the soil, and keep it rotting.

[Wellie]

I reckon Chantal's right with the two-legged, help-yourself handed pest.
The very lovely PIGLET peeps on this forum had a similar Strawberry pest earlier this year.
It's a very 'back-handed compliment' I know, but people pests never seem to steal rubbish crops, so well done you for a fabulous crop this year.
Try barbed-wire and search-lights next year instead of straw ?
Seriously, I feel for you...

[newatallthis]

Thank you for your replies, Normally I would think perhaps my two legged pest had something to do with all this, but not this time, there was definately rotting going on and I definately spotted slugs on some,so Straw is not good then?
Is too late now?

Do I pull up the whole plant, (which has taken over the garden) and try again next year?

[Allan]

A lot of sensible advice has already been given. I grow butternut sprinter which is somewhat earlier and thus it might have helped you inasmuch as they mature earlier so the skin could have been harder than on yours. We waited a long time for the rain but it was what the slugs wanted. Our protection is cut up sections of square plastic bottles to rest the fruit on.
Allan

[peter]

Thank you for your replies, Normally I would think perhaps my two legged pest had something to do with all this, but not this time, there was definately rotting going on and I definately spotted slugs on some,so Straw is not good then?
Is too late now?

Do I pull up the whole plant, (which has taken over the garden) and try again next year?

Much too late now, sorry.

First frost then the plant will die.

Have it up and tidied, try again next year and get them started early, then nurtured under cover till all danger of frost has gone.

Yup, I lost some to rot this year and not because I missed them under the blackcurrent, ready to notice in a few months.