Butternut squash plants, do they survive winter?

wishuponastar

Do butternut squash plants survive over winter? I've got some in pots and some in the ground in a sheltered spot that gets good sun (not in a greenhouse or anything).


With the ones in the ground do I need to do anything i.e. put a cover on them when the cooler weather sets in or what happens to them normally?


Never grown them before and can't seem to find any relevant info on them.


Any advice from anyone who has grown them before would be appreciated. TIA.

Davesnave

They kick the bucket with the first frosts, if the mildew hasn't already got them by then.


Following some advice, I think I've left squash on the plants too long in the past and not given them time to develop a hard skin before the cooler days arrive. This year, I've been cutting them as they reach a decent size, so already have about 25 on the polytunnel bench.

wishuponastar

25 is good going, well done.


So is there any way to save them at all? Has anyone had any success? What if I bring the potted ones inside? and maybe put a plastic cover or something over the outdoor ones?


Any tips or success stories would be appreciated.

Davesnave

25 is nothing. I'll be happy if I get 60. I don't eat that amount, but I'll sell some and give others away.


It's the plant's natural life cycle to bear all those fruits and then expire. I'm sorry, but whatever you do experimentally, you won't cheat nature, I'm afraid.

wishuponastar

I wasn't trying to cheat nature as you put it, I was trying to see if I can help them to keep growing.


Given they have put a lot of energy into growing into lovely big plants with big fruits. I was just trying to see if there's a way to help keep the plants alive as I'm not the type of person to watch things wither away if I can help it (as i think it is just the cold weather that would affect/kill them, otherwise they would keep growing and living).

Davesnave

wishuponastar wrote: »

I wasn't trying to cheat nature as you put it, I was trying to see if I can help them to keep growing.

If it's normal for particular plants to die as part of their natural life cycle, interfering with that to sustain growth must involve creating an abnormal response to the seasons. In other words, they must be tricked into a different growth pattern from the one they have evolved over time.

But as I've already pointed out, towards the end of the fruit production phase, squash plants become weak and fall prey to different fungal diseases, so these will kill them, even if low temperatures don't.

With some veg plants there's an opportunity to keep individuals alive year to year, if desirable. For example I've had tomatoes producing at Christmas from cuttings rooted in July. I wouldn't do it again though, because sunlight in December is weak and as a result, the tomatoes don't taste as good.

wishuponastar

Thanks for helping to make me feel better about not trying to keep them alive over winter. I've never grown them before and so this was a first time and I guess I got attached.


I've got about 4 butternuts, each about the size of a fist, so I'm hoping they continue to grow and get bigger. I know it's not a patch on your 25 or 60 that you are aiming for which is impressive, is that one per plant or do you have more than one on a plant?

Davesnave

I think I get about ten on a plant, but it's hard to tell, because I grow them around a large rectangle of black ground cover and direct them towards the middle, so they get muddled-up. I use different places every year and improve the soil with manure wherever I put them in.

The black polypropylene ground cover absorbs the heat from the sun and it keeps the fruits clean. As I have plenty of garden, I can afford to grow this way; they're a great way to fill up space.

I used to grow big varieties like Blue Banana, but now I find smaller F1 varieties are of more practical use.


Hope that helps. Plenty of time yet for yours to expand.

wishuponastar

Wow, that is amazing. 10 on a plant! Wow. I've got one on a plant. Sounds like they really like what you do for them.


When do yours normally stop growing? I've got some very immature female flowers showing.


Not sure what variety I'm growing, just the usual tan coloured kind of bell shaped ones you see in the shops. Never heard of blue banana but I search for it and I can see why it gets it name, as it looks just like.... a blue banana (if what I saw was the right thing) lol

Davesnave

I'd say mine will stop growing usefully in October, but it depends on the weather really. A mild, not too wet and windy autumn might see them last a few weeks extra.

As I said, I don't do anything special, apart from add about half a barrow load of well rotted manure to the planting hole and grow across heavy, black ground cover to stop weeds.,

I can't say which butternut I grew this year and it might have been 2 varieties. They don't always breed true either, so I have one plant producing longer, thinner fruit, up to about 40cm. I saw a Trombocino type in a local show that was over a metre; not very practical!


Edited to add....I'm leaving all the remaining squash on the plants now, so I can compare with the ones I cut and stored earlier. The latter have changed colour and are forming a good skin, but their sugar content isn't as good as it is later in the season and I'm not sure if it will improve. Only one way to find out. We are using them anyway.

wishuponastar

Thanks for the advice, it definitely is helpful.


Wow that massive one is huge, I wouldn't know where to start with that, it wouldn't even fit on my chopping board at over 1 metre. Bet it caused a few jaws to drop. Wow.


I'll just be leaving mine on as long as I can too as they are still kind of fist sized and the plants have some immature flowers starting out. Maybe there's not enough time for them but will see. This is my first time so i'll be excited if I get one full size butternut


That's good your other ones have started preparing their skin for storage. You'll have a happy tum long after butternut season has ended