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When to harvest this butternut squash please

BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
in Fruit & veg
Hi folks
Not sure how much longer to leave this. It’s about the same size as ones I buy but doesn’t have the beige colour of those ones. Will it change colour or ripen further? Will it not taste right now?
Many thanks

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I would harvest it now ... cut the main vine in two places so that the stem is a ‘T’ shape ... bring it into the warm and dry.  It may colour up a bit more ... but different types of butternut squash do have slightly different colouration anyway (even know supermarkets where they sell different varieties) so I wouldn’t worry about that. 
    I think it’ll be fine. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
    Great. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! The seed packet shows them as a tan/beige colour which was making me wonder. I have another one which is not looking so healthy and is about 1/3 of the size of this one. It is just lying on the ground as opposed to this one which I placed the slab under to keep it out of the undergrowth. Should I hold out any hope for this other one or is it too late in the season for it to continue to develop?
    Best wishes
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Even if it doesn't ripen fully, you can still use them ... treat as a courgette.   :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobMcFishBobMcFish Posts: 66
    Excellent thanks  :)
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