Butternut squash

[The amateur]

I have taken a silly notion to try and grow some seeds from the butternut squash we had from tea. Practical? I really don't know. I'm from the west of scotland so imagine a bit cold and a whole lot wet.

I have done a bit of reading about growing squash in hills although I am not so sure about what they mean by this.

How do I prepare the seeds for planting? And any other tips would be gratefully appreciated - including whether I am being totally daft.

[HayleyB]

Hehe, TA I was gonna reply to your lurker post but welcome anyway. I've done the same I've dried the seeds and will germinate the same time as my other squash seeds I've bought. Can only see what happens. I experimented with T**co peppers and they all grew so who knows

[Two_Sheds]

I am much further south than you and I only have success with the butternuts bred for "the cool north" (Harrier or Hunter)

Planting them on hills probably means a sort of a ridge or mound of soil ... this will be slightly warmer than the lower soil beneath it.

[vicky]

I tried butternut seeds from shop bought last year - no fruits at all, but I'd put that down to the weather...If we have a warm year next year you may be lucky, if you have the space it won't hurt to try them!
And welcome to the vine!

[Bren In Pots]

I got a few squash from my supermarket seeds but the weather was against them so they didn't get a chance to grow very big, still tasted good in the soup tho.

[realfood]

If "the Amateur" has a look at my website under my name, you will see detailed suggestions on growing Butternuts in Glasgow.
You will find that growing normal Winter Squashes is much easier, this far North.

[Herbie]

I have also saved seed, if it doesn't workout Ive learnt a new lesson. I will also be using seed that I have brought.

I wanted to try and grow mine in the top of the compost bin, seen it on the telly so thought I would give it a go.

[Herbie]

If "the Amateur" has a look at my website under my name, you will see detailed suggestions on growing Butternuts in Glasgow.
You will find that growing normal Winter Squashes is much easier, this far North.

Great Home page. Will be a regular to find out how to do things!

[MaureenHall]

If "the Amateur" has a look at my website under my name, you will see detailed suggestions on growing Butternuts in Glasgow.
You will find that growing normal Winter Squashes is much easier, this far North.

I had a look for the website and couldn't find it just a page about "Coming Soon, a guide to home food smoking and preserving". Have I got the right one?

[FionaH]

This is the one he meant, well its the one I went to!
H O M E

[Alice]

Welcome to the Vine Amateur. I think you should give them a go. I had good success in West Dumbarton (see pics) but I did have a sunny, south facing garden. Squash need a long, hot summer, so basically it's down to what kind of summer we get. They're very greedy feeders so mix some manure in with the compost or in the planting hole.
They're not frost hardy but need to be started in time to plant out after frost to give them a long enough growing season. They're a bit fikey to harden off. When very soft they faint if a breeze blows on them even if it is a lovely warm day, so I always put them under fleece for the first few days of hardening off. And they like to be well watered.
Good luck.

[janeyo]

HI I grew squash and pumpkin with my children from homesaved shop-bought seeds and they all grew. They didn't look like their mummy plants though but tasted fine. I gave a lot of seed to my son's pre-school too for them to do the same with.
I didn't sow yet though it was way later in the year. Not got book handy to remind me at the mo.

janeyo

[The amateur]

thank's everyone, I bought some Squash seeds in the Dobbie's seed sale but as I have them anyway I might just plant a few of the butternuts in a pot and put in in my wee greenhouse. I'll just not expect anything but we are closer to Dumbartonshire than Glasgow with a south east garden so maybe?

I wonder if the quality of the soil might be an issue as I tried growing some pumpkins last year with absolutely no success. We've got heavy clay soil which has been neglected for many years,

I don't know if this is even a growing technique but as I couldn't really grow anything in my compost bin but maybe I could do a variation on the compost pit (I think this was in the last ed of GYO) where I dig a small pit, put in my home grown compost and grow the Squash on top. Does that sound feasible?

[Two_Sheds]

maybe I could do a variation on the compost pit ...where I dig a small pit, put in my home grown compost and grow the Squash on top.

Yep, that is exactly a compost pit.

They like lots of water, and I hate wasting water, so I mulch mine well with sheets of wet newspaper.
1) Make a hole, fill with well-rotted compost
2) Put your squash plant in the ground
3) plant an upside down pop bottle or a flower pot next to it (for watering into)
4) put a large collar of wet newspaper around the squash plant (as a mulch)
5) put a bit of soil on top of the paper to stop it blowing away.

It seems a lot of work at first, but saves you hours of watering. I do it with beans too.

[Two_Sheds]

How do I prepare the seeds for planting?

I don't sow direct into the soil ... slugs are a menace.
Start your seeds off under cover (greenhouse? kitchen windowsill?) in April, and plant out after your last frost, when the soil has warmed up a bit. As Alice says, they hate even a nip of cold.

------
One year (2005?) I grew half my butternuts in the compost heap, and half on normal soil.
The compost heap ones grew lots of leaf and baby fruits, but none came to full size (too much nitrogen = lots of leaf)
The ones on the ground did brilliantly. Great big ripe fruits.

(Now I've got a comfrey patch, and feed them with comfrey juice)