How big will a butternut squash plant get?

**w33blegurl** · 15-03-2009, 05:22 PM

I've only grown them once (last year) and I had a plant at each of two corners of a
1.2m raised bed. They filled the raised bed (about 1.2x1.2m) and crept right out over all the paths..... I was very lax about pinching out shoots though so there may (perhaps??) be some way of keeping them a wee bit smaller! I am sure someone with a bit more knowledge will correct me though!

**selfraising** · 15-03-2009, 05:22 PM

I'm not sure either but I'm putting one plant in a wheelbarrow! Will wait to see what others say cos I'm not sure if I'll have room for the second!

**catgardener** · 15-03-2009, 05:28 PM

The first year I grew them they got to well over 12ft long. The last two summers have not been as good but they have still reached over 6ft.
You have to watch them, as they will take over all the over plants.

**Victoria26** · 15-03-2009, 05:31 PM

sigh.... Is there any way to stop them going crazy?? Or am I doomed to have a garden of leaves and man eating plants?

**coreopsis** · 15-03-2009, 05:34 PM

I'm going to have a couple of butternuts in unused part of the garden-behind the gas tank,facing the sun.I'm going to dig a hole,fill it with manure and off you go buddy,you can smother the tank if you want to

**selfraising** · 15-03-2009, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by catgardener View Post

The first year I grew them they got to well over 12ft long. The last two summers have not been as good but they have still reached over 6ft.
You have to watch them, as they will take over all the over plants.

OMG

Can they be pruned back??

**RedThorn** · 15-03-2009, 05:40 PM

Originally posted by selfraising View Post

OMG

Can they be pruned back??

Grow them up cheap wooden garage slatted shelving unit.... that way the shelves hold the fruit and they don't take up that much space - as you can train them back on themselves......

**Emmylou** · 15-03-2009, 05:52 PM

I've bought some seeds and it says on the packet they are a bush variety, so I'm hoping mine will be more like a compact courgette plant?? We had pumpkins taking over last year and I trimmed the vines on those to no ill effect! They were like triffids

**Victoria26** · 15-03-2009, 09:35 PM

Sheesh - I have two large planters which I'm going to put them in now - No way they're going in my wee border just incase!!

Ok thanks guys - any more infor or pearls of wisdon will be very welcome! Think I'll persevere with 2 plants....I like to be ambitious.

**Alice** · 15-03-2009, 11:34 PM

You're a bit early with your squash Victoria. The seedlings get big very quickly and they are not frost hardy so you will have them inside as very big plants.
Once planted out the plants get very big - mine run to about 9 feet, but I think they can get bigger than that.
You can wind the growth round in a circle to take up less space, try growing it up a post with support for the fruits or cut the runner back to a shorter length - but then you will probably only get 1 or 2 squash per plant.
They really are greedy for space and everythig else - but if it's what you want to grow, go for it.

**rainbowbrite** · 16-03-2009, 06:57 AM

i remember last year mine took over a tree, i was a bit concerned it would never stop but the veg i got was gorgeous so it was worth the effort

**jackie j** · 16-03-2009, 08:04 AM

They are like the triffids you can pinch them out when you have what you think is enough squash, I did this last year but only got a few to use as they rotted but that was due to the weather.

**Victoria26** · 16-03-2009, 08:25 AM

OMG these seem to be a lot more trouble than their worth. Maybe I'll just keep one.

I hate uprooting plants that are showing promise. S'pose this time I'll have to for the sake of my garden....

**Matt.** · 16-03-2009, 08:44 AM

They do gt big but just train the vine to go round in a loop. It doesn't have to grow in a linear fashion.

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How big will a butternut squash plant get?

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