Weight is another way to tell if your squashes are ready to be harvested. So use this in conjunction with other signs if you are growing less common varieties. However, color may be a difficult mode of detecting ripeness in winter squash varieties that are striped. Green on these crops is an indication it’s unripe. This refers to the most common butternut squash varieties. That means one color of tan all around the fruit. Couple that with a browning stem, and you know it’s time for harvesting. If the rind doesn’t yield to your finger, you likely have a ripe squash on the vine. If you’re able to pierce the skin with a fingernail, it’s not time yet. Skin and RindĬheck the rind to tell if butternut squash is ready for harvesting. This is because the vine no longer needs to feed nutrients to the fruit, and the squash is ready for picking.īy cutting off nutrients to the fruit, your winter squash vines can produce more for harvesting down the line. When the butternut squash is ripe for harvesting, the tips of the stems dry and turn brown. That first frost will cause damage to your fruits and ruin your harvest so keep your ear to the ground when it comes to weather conditions. Even if they’re unripe the day before the first frost you’ll need to remove them from their host plants to prevent frost damage.īutternut squash can still be eaten even if it’s unripe, and you’ll save seed for next season in the process. So if you’re growing butternut squash and you planted seeds in late spring, you’ll begin harvesting by late summer.Įxpect some variation as different environmental conditions can speed up or slow down crop production.įrost is a huge indicator of when it is time to remove butternuts from the vine. In general, butternut squash takes about 100 to 120 days from planting time to mature. Timing varies depending on when you have butternut squash growing. It’s possible you could be harvesting at a different time. So, use other methods to tell whether you have a mature squash. However, if you plant your squash early enough, they could be ready in the summer. Typically, butternut squash is ready to be picked in late fall or early winter. Now, let’s talk about harvesting your plants! When Should I Harvest Butternut Squash? Knowing when to harvest butternut squash is important. You’ll have a consistent supply of butternut squash for soups, purees, and sides.Īt this point, you’ve got the butternut squash gardening down. Follow the tips here, look for the signs and wait for the right time. You can even harvest slightly green butternuts and eat them. Harvest butternut squash correctly, cure it, and you will find that you can save seeds for squash gardening in the future. To top it off, there’s a drying and storage process too. The vine itself also gives you an indication of when fruits are ripe for picking. You’ll have to pay attention to the season to know the right time to harvest. There are a few key things that indicate a squash is ready for harvest. But how do you know when to harvest butternut squash? Acorn, delicata, and kabocha are all lovely, however, they do not compare to the delicate flavor of butternut squash. Is there anything better than winter squash grown on vines in your backyard? Absolutely not. When Should I Harvest Butternut Squash?.
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