I saw on the net somewhere that you should not pick squash until the stem is brown. This site didn't mention that. When should I pick my squash? My butternut is huge, some others are very small and some are medium.
We would not recommend waiting until the stem is brown necessarily. If the squash is the correct color for its type, feels heavy for its size and sounds somewhat hollow when thumped, then it is ready to be harvested.
I have cucumbers, zucchini, and butternut squash all planted in same area-same soil-same watering. The zucchini and cucumbers produced flowers about three weeks ago and are making fruit but the butternut squashes still haven't made any flowers, even though they were all started at the same time. Can I do anything to force flowering?
It may have too much nitrogen which can prevent flowering. You can try giving it some phosphorous rich fertilizer to offset the nitrogen.
They are not ready to harvest. They still have some green on them.
Uneven watering or temperatures are normally the cause of fruit split in plants. Stem split is also common and usually due to extreme temperatures changes and uneven watering as well, but it never hurts to check for signs of pests, especially since they can penetrate the plant through these splits.
If you feel you need to go ahead and pick them, they will ripen off the vine. This article will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/ripening-green-unripe-squash.htm
Butternut squash vines went from green and thriving to yellow and droopy in a matter of days. The fruit is dark green but has stopped growing, and no new fruit is developing even though there are lots of bees in the garden. Why would this happen, and is it okay to pick and eat the squash now? The tomatoes and green peppers in the same plot are doing well.
You may have vine borers. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htm
You can eat the fruit, but you may find it is rather bitter or flavorless.
I work at a large community garden. Our winter squash turned out yucky. Delecata were inedible, bland, mealy, pasty, dry and definitely not sweet. Thought they were over ripe but the butternut are equally tasteless. Acorn ones too. Was it too much water? Something missing in the soil? Outwardly they look great. Plants and squash were all large and healthy looking. . . but they are flavorless to down right bad tasting. Any ideas?
The most common reason for bitterness or bad flavor is stress to the plant. Too much heat, too little water or uneven watering are the most common reasons for this stress.
First time growing them and need to know how to store them.
After you finish picking butternut squash, it needs to be cured. All that means is that you have to let the squash sit at room temperature for a week or two to fully harden the skin. They’ll need a temperature of about 70 degrees F., but don’t leave them outdoors where they’ll be vulnerable to insects.
Once cured, the fruit should be stored in a cool dry place (40-50 F.) such as a basement or garage. Do not let them freeze. Properly stored, your butternut squash should last from three to six months.
I have a vigorous butternut squash vine that is on a trellis . Lots of squash have formed, some even get to a small size then the blossom rot sets in and I lose them. I have had at least 20 squash do this. I keep trying, hoping I may get a full healthy one. I have given it compost, vegetable food/calcium, water. . nothing works. Do I have to get rid of it and just try again next year?
No, you don't need to give up. This article can help with the blossom rot issue: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htm