Lovely in shape and size, but they are still green! is there another way to help them ripen as I think it's getting too late in the year to save them?
Sometimes you can ripen them off the vine. It depends on how close to mature they were. This article will help you try: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/ripening-green-unripe-squash.htm
The pumpkins are being hand pollinated and start growing ok, but only one has grown to any normal size. What can I do to promote fruit growth?
It sounds like you don't have sufficient pollination or too much fruit set. If there are too many fruits on each vine, each fruit won't get enough nutrition to mature to full size. Consider limiting the nu mber of fruit on each vine. Example: the huge pumpkins that exceed 800-1000 pounds...only 1 fruit per vine, that way al energy is put into that fruit. Each variety of curcubits has it's own optimum harvest count.
I have been told for years from garden masters that Butternut squash will not pollinate with another squash, yet in your article RE: Cucumbers Cross Pollinating with Squashes, you say that they do. Why is that? I have not had this happen to me as of yet and I grow zucchini and Butternut squash together for quite some time now.
With thanks.
This link is interesting: https://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/8-23-1996/crosspol.html
This link from NCState says the same thing, but seems to be easier to understand:
http://mcdowell.ces.ncsu.edu/Cross+Pollinating+Crops/
Is the squash going to continue to ripen or have we lost all that was picked while green? :(
Don't hurt him, he meant well. It would have been preferable to have left the squash on the plant until maturity, but... There is a change they will be mature enough to store. Keep a close eye on them. This article might help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-harvest.htm
When my Butternut squash turns yellow, does that mean it is ready to harvest?
Here is a link to a great article on butternut harvest: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-harvest.htm
The green butternut squash has the coloring and stripes of a zucchini, but is shaped like a butternut. The plants grew close to each other and the butternut vines crossed over into the zucchini section. Could this be a cross between a butternut and zucchini?
It is possible that they may have cross-pollinated, but the results would show up in the fruit from "saved" seed. There seems to be slightly more than usual oddity vegetables this summer. I've been blaming it on the weather.
Can it be cooked and eaten or have to go into compost?
While freeze-damaged fruit is still edible as long as the damaged areas are removed, its flavor may be compromised. That said, it should not pose any risk eating it should you decide to try it, but it may be best to toss it instead.