Winter squash

[ken]

My winter squash plants (3 each of Buttercup and Uchiki Kuri) have ramped away and set a lot of fruit. The first fruits look close to maturity but it looks as thoiugh some of the later ones are now being rejected by the plants and are dying off. Is this because of insufficient food or water, or just a sign that we need to remove the mature fruit in the hope of getting a few more?

[Colin Miles]

I grew Uchiki Kuri last year and had just 1 useable fruit. I don't think that they can cope with the wetness.

[ken]

Yes, I see where you're writing from, Colin. We're in Sahara South-east - well, not Saharan temperatures but we've only had an inch of rain so far this month. Uchiki Kuri usually does well with us. Incidentally, I've now removed the fruit that were dying off. We've also tried the first Buttercup and concluded that it wasn't fully ripe, although the seeds were well formed.

[FelixLeiter]

We've also tried the first Buttercup and concluded that it wasn't fully ripe, although the seeds were well formed.

To store well, winter squash should be allowed to develop full term on the plant wherever possible. Ideally, leave them on until the plant starts to die off naturally or until it is touched by frost, whichever is the soonest. Leaving the earliest-developed fruits on the plants does not hinder the development of later fruits. On the other hand, they will only set as many fruits as they feel able to support, with a small vine setting fewer fruits than a large one.

[ken]

Thanks, Felix. Will follow your advice and stop worrying about the 'failed' fruit. Ken