It’s early September and I have a problem with my Butternut Squash.
VIDEO: Allotment Grow How – Butternut Squash & Spinach
It’s early September and I have a problem with my Butternut Squash.
It’s early September and I have a problem with my Butternut Squash.
Thanks for the update, my friend. Too bad about your butternut squash splitting. The grapes looked good. Always nice to get a surprise in the garden.
This is my first year growing any sort of squash and I haven't had one split yet, but I have seen on Dan's channel that he puts canopies up to shade the squash from the sun. Could the result of not shading them be what you are experiencing? I have no reference point to say whether that is right or not, but I reckon Dan wouldn't shade them unless there was a reason for it so that could be it. North Korea eh? Maybe if he gets into gardening he wouldn't be so 'Ronery' – Team America: World Police (6/10) Movie CLIP – I'm So Ronery (2004) HD Loved the vid as always mate. Well done.
There are two reasons squash tend to split.
1) Too much water after the skin has started ripening, and it can't stretch to accommodate the flesh as it swells underneath. So if you get a sudden downpour after a dry spell, it often happens. To prevent this next year, grow them in a raised bed, or on a heaped up mound, so they drain well.
2) A really hot dry spell, which I think splits it because the skin gets so dry it 'contracts' too fast around the flesh.
In each case, the best way to prevent it is to try and keep the watering even, so you don't get stop-starts with the growing. Yeah, I know, counsels of perfection:-)
Good news is, they will heal over, as long as they don't get infected in the splits and rot. (If they do start to rot, cut the bad bit out and you can still use them to roast/ for soup etc.) Even with the corky scars, they will still store, just not look so perfect. But keep them on the plant as long as possible (ideally until first frosts, or at least till end of September, if possible), because the flavour improves and intensifies as they ripen. If you want to store them, they will need to be well ripened to keep.
You have left the spinach too long
How do you cook it?
I have never seen spinach that big! I have also never had butternut squash split. Maybe your cool damp weather? They are usually pretty easy to grow.
Im growing squash in a raised bed Iv been looking at the Americans sites and they said the squash likes quite dry conditions so Im going to mound the earth up and hope for the best .. Iv had a big success with an american type cucumber in the raised bed so Im hoping this goes well .. oh well here goes …