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Squash. Harvest or wait a while longer

Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 175
in Fruit & veg
Hi. This is my first year with any success at all with squash and that is limited to two plants but I have a few good large butternut squash's now. As they are plenty big enough should I harvest them and ripen elsewhere and would that help the few other smaller ones develop? Or leave them be?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I would wait but lift as many as you can up into the sunshine to help them ripen and keep the plants watered if you've been hit by drought. 

    I leave mine till late September/mid October when they've gone a soft caramel colour.   Cut off any flowers and really tiny squashes to let all the energy go to th eones that will give you something of a size you can eat.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    As Obelixx has said leave them as long as you can, they'll be fine on the plant up to the first frosts. For storing the skin wants to harden . I'd remove any small ones and nip out the growing tips if you haven't already.
    They store really well and I have kept them stored in good condition till the following spring.
  • Forester_PeteForester_Pete Posts: 175
    Thanks both. Good advice as always.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Pleasure.  We ate one of last year's butternuts in a curry on Saturday.   Just one more left so, given a hard skin and ventilation they do store well.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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