Butternut Squash

[mojito99]

Hiya

I'm new to the forum and I have been growing tomotoes, cucumbers, carrots and butternut squash this year.

Everything has went well apart from getting rot on 2 of my tomato plants - I have no idea why this happened, but my main problem is my butternut squash. The plants have grown quite large and they have produced quite a lot of male flowers however the female flowers have been real slow in growing. I have had a few with the fruit growing but then the fruit has rotted away. I know that this is because they have not pollenated and I'm finding this very frustrating!

I think I have managed to cross pollenate one female flower with a male flower but the male/female flowers are just now growing at the same time.

I had the plants outside over the summer but I have now taken them back into my greenhouse however I do keep the door open.

I just don't know where I am going wrong. I have 2 fruits left and I think one is on its way to start rotting but I'm hoping the other one is going to be ok. I can see that there are still a number of male flowers ready to bud but I can't see any other female flowers.

Has anyone had success at growing squash? Would you be able to give me any pointers?

Many thanks

[realfood]

You do not say where you are but Butternut squash are notoriously difficult, especially in a wet year. It helps if you grow a variety such as harrier which has been bred for the UK.
It is much easier to grow Winter Squash and they taste just as good as butternuts. Have a look at this page for suggestions of varieties and methods for growing Winter Squash. winter_squash

[mojito99]

Hiya

I come from the Falkirk area. The seeds were from the BBC dig in free offer. I've got 2 fruits left but one is definately going to rot but I'm hoping the other one doesn't.

I will look at the info that you have given as I'm really keen to grow something like squash that you can use in the winter for soups ect.

Thanks for the advice.

[realfood]

I have a feeling that the BBC offer was for Hunter, which is one of those bred for the UK, but I found last year when I did a test on it in Glasgow, that it needed the boost of protection from a large cloche.

[mojito99]

I dont know whether to give up now. The plants are still in my greenhouse but all of the fruit has rotted as they were not pollenated and I seem to have an abundance of male flowers now but no females ones.

Is to late now for the plants?

[realfood]

I suspect that it is too late now. All my Winter squashes are harvested and hardening in a sunny window. I would suggest that next year you try a Winter squash such as Festival and see how you get on.