Butternut Squash

[Binky]

I am growing this for the first time this year. How many squashes should I expect per plant? (I am an average sort of gardener.) I know men tend to talk things up a bit but the chap on the next plot claims eight.

[Geoff]

I would be very happy with 8, never bettered 3 INSIDE.

[Colin_M]

I'd agree with Geoff. In an average summer, 3 "shop size" fruits per plant would probably be good going and would have good flavour, thick flesh etc.

You can certainly get more but usually the plant has to spread it's energy more thinly and I'd be surprised if they were as good. The only time I got more was in 2006 (a pretty long hot one if I remember rightly). That year I actually managed two harvests from all my squash plants:
- First lot picked in late August/early Sept
- Second lot picked in October

Unless we get these conditions again, it can be a good idea to pinch out further fruits. Needless to say, things like plenty of feed, careful watering etc all help too. Finally if you want to grow lots of squash plants, allow a fair bit of room. I'm sure others will tell us if they've managed to get Butternut to grow up supports etc.

[AdeTheSpade]

I'm going to try growing mine up canes - I didn't grow any butternut squashes last year but did grow some others, and they did just great up canes. I'll let you know how it goes if you like?

[naturediva]

I tried growing butternut squash in the greenhouse last year and had 1 'shop' size one and a slightly smaller one plus a few smaller ones formed but never came to full fruition. If I'd thought I could have removed the smallers ones early and cooked then as per Jamie Oliver. Still better luck this year. Happy growing

[Marken]

I think the number of squash depends on the weather as well as site/soil etc. Last year I only managed one, (yes, one!) But I can remember growing them years ago and getting 4/5 good size fruits per vine, but that was a good summer with hot weather.

[RoRo]

I had a very successful first year of growing Butternuts, over 10 large squashes, this was with no trimming and letting them run rampant, however since then very limited success ( it was the warm summer 3 years back).

Does the squash get all it's nutrients from the root system and leaves ? Mine also seemed to send out tendrils from the shoots which anchored into the ground so I wondered if this allowed for extra fruiting, getting sustenance from many sources. If so this would be my concern about growing up canes or trellis.

[FelixLeiter]

Butternut squash have become all the rage these last 4-5 years, talked up by the telly chefs and in magazines. Most of the ones in the shops are grown in southern Europe and in South Africa, where the climate suits them better. They need a long warm summer and lots of water, whereas here it tends to be either cold and wet or hot and dry. Growing them in a polytunnel goes some way towards giving them the conditions they like, but there's nothing you can do about a short growing season and lack of autumn sunshine, which is what they really need to ripen properly, if they have developed fully in the first place, that is.

I see Gardeners' World have been giving butternut squash seeds away in their free seed campaign, which in my view is unfortunate as they are far from a beginner's crop and can only serve to discourage tyro gardeners if the season is poor. There are many other squash varieties which are completely reliable in our climate (onion squash, or kombucha types, or the excellent Little Gem) which are just as tasty.

[Marken]

Am I right in thinking that some varieties of butternut squash are more suited to our climate? - The variety "Waltham" seems to come to mind.