Oh Noooo! I've ruined my squash

[catkeeble]

I could kick myself...

My butternut squash has been coming along nicely for a couple of weeks now...I had 3 nice size squashes coming and all the new little buds were starting but turning yellow and dropping off quickly...so I just assumed that 3 was my lot and I should cut off some of the extra lengths and put all the energy into the 3 I had...

But in my chopping fury I've chopped off the length that help my biggest squash...arghhh!! Any ideas what I can do? It hasn't turned orange yet...still has green streaks running through it....I could kick myself...

Also, I had two plants (Hunter variety)...was I right in thinking 3 would be it? Or now I've literally hacked it to death will more come through??

[Bigmallly]

........sorry for laughing but I know exactly how you feel. I did exactly the same thing with my cucs last week, I was cutting a couple off & cut straight through the main branch. Luckily I had more branches so lost about 6/7 cucs.

[falkon]

I was trying to pluck a ripened tomato but I plucked two green ones along with it.... It happens from time to time...

[Nicos]

One of my plants has sprawled onto the grass path. I tried to pick up the length yesterday to curl it back onto the bed- and the darn thing broke...not fully across- so I left it be....

( and blamed it on the peacock!!!)


..yes- I know- I'll have to own up- the guilt is killing me!!!!

Thing is- it didn't break off completely so I rested the broken ends right against each other....it'll either die or soldier on!

Good luck with yours
I'd bring it onto a sunny windowsill next to some ripe toms and bananas and see what happens...it certainly works with toms!

[mrscorpio]

I was trying to pluck a ripened tomato but I plucked two green ones along with it.... It happens from time to time...

It happens all the time when you let your 19 month old son help harvest the garden goodies.

[Brengirl]

Has anyone tried using splints......

[Alison]

You can still eat it but it might not have as much flavour and won't store

[catkeeble]

Grr....I was so proud of my butternut too...blah blah

Out of interest...do they generally have to be the orange'ey shade before you pick them?

I did it to my tommies too, was trying to tie the branches up to supports and snapped a branch clean off...but I wasn't as bothered with that as there are plenty more waiting to be picked...

I'll definately try to banana process...worth a shot, huh?

[gojiberry]

Always thought that butternut squash were creamy coloured, but then I live a sheltered life and may be I just haven't seen orangey ones before. LOL

Ian

[catkeeble]

Always thought that butternut squash were creamy coloured, but then I live a sheltered life and may be I just haven't seen orangey ones before. LOL

Ian

You're probably right....I guess it's my peception on them!! I think they have an orange tinge...but I suppose they are more creamy than orange!!

[catkeeble]

Has anyone tried using splints......

Does that work Brengirl??

[Jeanied]

Catkeeble I have picked and used a butternut at that stage before now - greeny going towards the creamy colour? It was lovely!!
I have used a fabric sticking plaster on a slug-nibbled stem before now - you find that the stem keeps going and starts rooting further along the length, after the mended part - it did not seem to have too many problems. My difficulty was that the squashes were planted a bit late and didn't ripen fully before the whole lot got nabbed by the early frosts we had last year. Fingers crossed that this doesn't happen again this year as I was a bit late in planting out...

[catkeeble]

Hey Jeanied..I may try that next time with the band aid!!

I may aswell eat the squash I hacked off as it's such a waste...and like you said, it was on the turn so lets hope it tastes as good as yours!!

[womble]

Duct tape, works on anything it certainly has held together various tomato plants which I have butchered by mistake.

[maypril]

I should cut off some of the extra lengths and put all the energy into the 3 I had...

But in my chopping fury I've chopped off the length that help my biggest squash.

Hopefgully the two remaining will grow even bigger than they would have done if you hadn't cut the 3rd off.