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- Q.Bizzare Squash Being Produced - I don't know where to turn to for my garden mystery. Last year and this year I planted spaghetti squash ...
- Q.Butternut Squash - My butternut squash had been growing nicely up until about 2 weeks ago. They are quite small (for butternut squash), ...
- Q.Butternut Squash - I planted one butternut squash plant in mid May. It was a fairly large plant at that time. It has ...
- Q.Butternut Squash - Why are the leaves on my butternut squash plant turning yellow?
- Q.Growing Squash - My butternut squash has wilting leaves and a white slime at base of the plants. Help!
- Q.Butternut Squash - My butternut squash are starting to split. They are still a little green. Should I pick them now?
- Q.Green Butternut Squash - My husband picked some large butternut squashes that are still green with stripes. Can I eat them? Will they taste ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
July 8, 2015Q.Bizzare Squash Being Produced
I don't know where to turn to for my garden mystery. Last year and this year I planted spaghetti squash and winter (butternut) squashes very close to one another. Unbeknownst to me until now, they apparently cross pollinated. This year, I purchased the spaghetti squash plant, but I planted this winter squash seeds from one of last year's fruit. Last year, I produced spaghetti squash and some sort of 'alien' squash. These unknown creatures were orange like pumpkins, but they were column-like, NOT spherical the way most pumpkins are. I threw them away - far off property, because I could not find out what they were and whether or not they were edible and/or safe to eat. This year, I have a pumpkin, a summer (yellow) squash, spaghetti and winter butternut squash all planted close to one another. And, yesterday, much to my disappointment (as the plants appear to set records for yield), I noticed that the green fruit that would be shaped in a familiar butternut squash shape is that of this 'alien' that I had last year. Could anyone *please* let me know where I can find out what this is?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 10, 2015A.You have encountered cross pollination!
Here is a link with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/cross-pollination.htm
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- Asked by
GreenGoddessGurl on
July 22, 2015
11706Q.Butternut Squash
My butternut squash had been growing nicely up until about 2 weeks ago. They are quite small (for butternut squash), and have not increased in size for about 2 weeks. Is this normal? I mean, I'm getting lots new squash on the vines, but the two initial fruits have stopped getting bigger. What should I do? (BTW, this is the first time I'm growing butternut squash).
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 22, 2015A.Squash need regular feeding throughout there growing. You can try to fertilize or increase the fertilizer if your all ready doing so.
Also make sure the squash are just not all ready ripe and ready to pick.
Most are mature at 8 to 12 inches, but this can vary with the variety.
Look for the the stem of the squash to turn from green to brown, this will indicate the plant has stopped sending nutrients to the squash.
If you press your fingernail into the flesh it should resist. This indicates it is ready to pick.
I also like to use Epsom Salt on my vegetable plants. This can give them a boost during the heavy growing periods of summer.Here is a link to refresh you on the growing requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/growing-butternut-squash.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/epsom-salt-gardening.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 22, 2015Q.Butternut squash
I planted one butternut squash plant in mid May. It was a fairly large plant at that time. It has 8-10 squash one it in various sizes. They are all some shade of beige and the stripes appear to be gone. The bush seems to be dying. Is this the time to pick them even though it is only July? Will the smaller ones be good for eating?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 22, 2015A.These articles will help with growing and harvesting this squash: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/growing-butternut-squash.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-harvest.htmAs for the plant's decline, check for pests. It could be vine borers attacking the plant. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 26, 2015Q.Butternut Squash
Why are the leaves on my butternut squash plant turning yellow?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 27, 2015A.This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/why-squash-leaves-turn-yellow.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 29, 2015Q.growing squash
My butternut squash has wilting leaves and a white slime at base of the plants. Help!
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
July 29, 2015A.Unfortunately, your plants have bacterial wilt. If there are other squash family plants around it, it may also be in the other plants. You can try pulling it up, but be aware the other plants may already be infected. Here is more information on the problem: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/signs-and-treatments-of-squash-wilt.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 24, 2015Q.butternut squash
My butternut squash are starting to split. They are still a little green. Should I pick them now?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
August 24, 2015A.While stem split is common and usually due to extreme temperatures changes and uneven watering, fruit splitting is normally more of a water issue. However, it never hurts to check for signs of pests too, especially since they can penetrate the plant through these splits. In the event that you should need to go ahead and pick them, you can sometimes ripen them off the vine, depending on how close to maturity they are. This article will help you try: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/ripening-green-unripe-squash.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
September 5, 2015Q.Green Butternut squash
My husband picked some large butternut squashes that are still green with stripes. Can I eat them? Will they taste any good? How should I cook them?
- Answered by
Downtoearthdigs on
September 8, 2015A.You can eat them, though they may not taste very good. However, sometimes you can ripen them off the vine. It just depends on how close to maturity they were. This article will help you try:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/ripening-green-unripe-squash.htmIn the future, your husband may want to harvest at the right time. This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/butternut-squash-harvest.htmWas this answer useful?00
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