Butternut suprise!

Last post 17-01-2009 7:46 AM by john stanley. 3 replies.

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22/10/2008 05:45 AM
Tigerlilly Location: Cape Breton Joined on: 22 Oct 2008 Posts: 1	Reply \| Contact HELP - I have recently used butternut sqush in a recipie, and my boyfriend (for some reason) stuck about half a dozen seeds into a spare pot. 2 weeks later, I now have 3 seedlings, and anticipate atleast two more. I hope I can keep them alive (I can't let a good plant die), however it is WAY outside the normal plating season - being that it is currently October - so I wont be able to transplant them outside least they die! My questions are: Is it possible to grow these plants indoors? I obviously can anticipate having to use allot of space, and some kind of wire rack for the vine to grow on. The temperature in my house is usually 18 - 20 degrees C. I currently have the plants sitting in front of a window, however seeing as how winter is setting in I am worried about the plants getting enough light. Will this be a problem? Also, I plan on transplanting them into a larger pot, however I am worried that the amount of soil I will have wont be enough. Can I counteract this by using a liquid fertalizer? Will the roots of ~3 vines have enough room in say a large mixing bowl sized pot? Will I have to polinate the flowers myself? - If I even get that far... Sorry for all the questions. Any answers will be well apprecieated. - Cheers

22/10/2008 05:45 AM

Tigerlilly
Location:
Cape Breton
Joined on:
22 Oct 2008
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1

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HELP - I have recently used butternut sqush in a recipie, and my boyfriend (for some reason) stuck about half a dozen seeds into a spare pot. 2 weeks later, I now have 3 seedlings, and anticipate atleast two more. I hope I can keep them alive (I can't let a good plant die), however it is WAY outside the normal plating season - being that it is currently October - so I wont be able to transplant them outside least they die!

My questions are:

I currently have the plants sitting in front of a window, however seeing as how winter is setting in I am worried about the plants getting enough light. Will this be a problem?

Also, I plan on transplanting them into a larger pot, however I am worried that the amount of soil I will have wont be enough. Can I counteract this by using a liquid fertalizer? Will the roots of ~3 vines have enough room in say a large mixing bowl sized pot?

Will I have to polinate the flowers myself? - If I even get that far...

Sorry for all the questions. Any answers will be well apprecieated. - Cheers

22/10/2008 09:08 AM	In reply to
bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043	Reply \| Contact For best results send your plants to Australia, otherwise: Is it possible to grow these plants indoors? I obviously can anticipate having to use allot of space, and some kind of wire rack for the vine to grow on. The temperature in my house is usually 18 - 20 degrees C. 18-20 is fine - low light will need balancing with low warmth if you are to have any chance of success. Houses are a bit onthe dry side so standing your plants on damp gravel might help. I currently have the plants sitting in front of a window, however seeing as how winter is setting in I am worried about the plants getting enough light. Will this be a problem? Yes it will! If you have a good quality heated greenhouse you might have a chance, otherwise don't get your hopes up unless you want to invest in a growing light and thereby raise the most expensive and environmentally damaging squashes in the world. Also, I plan on transplanting them into a larger pot, however I am worried that the amount of soil I will have wont be enough. Can I counteract this by using a liquid fertalizer? Will the roots of ~3 vines have enough room in say a large mixing bowl sized pot? No one plant per bowl would be better, but this will be the least of your problems Will I have to polinate the flowers myself? - If I even get that far...Yes, be ready to play match-maker in the unlikely event of getting your plants to produce female flowers. Good luck Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

22/10/2008 09:08 AM

In reply to

bogweevil
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Joined on:
02 Mar 2004
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2,043

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For best results send your plants to Australia, otherwise:

Is it possible to grow these plants indoors? I obviously can anticipate having to use allot of space, and some kind of wire rack for the vine to grow on. The temperature in my house is usually 18 - 20 degrees C. 18-20 is fine - low light will need balancing with low warmth if you are to have any chance of success. Houses are a bit onthe dry side so standing your plants on damp gravel might help.

I currently have the plants sitting in front of a window, however seeing as how winter is setting in I am worried about the plants getting enough light. Will this be a problem? Yes it will! If you have a good quality heated greenhouse you might have a chance, otherwise don't get your hopes up unless you want to invest in a growing light and thereby raise the most expensive and environmentally damaging squashes in the world.

Will I have to polinate the flowers myself? - If I even get that far...Yes, be ready to play match-maker in the unlikely event of getting your plants to produce female flowers.

Good luck

Boggy

Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

27/11/2008 01:51 PM	In reply to
Lennie Location: SE23 London Joined on: 27 Nov 2008 Posts: 3	Reply \| Contact At least Im not the only one growing Butternut Squash through the winter period. Im experimenting. I love squash so I am trying to get some ready to eat by June next year. Ok, the cold may kill them off but for the last couple of years, my garden has been most sunniest in Apr/May and not the summer months (I think Summer comes much earlier nowadays). Therefore it is an experiment and I will also be planting sqaush seeds in Feb/mar too so I dont go without my Squash next year.

27/11/2008 01:51 PM

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Lennie
Location:
SE23 London
Joined on:
27 Nov 2008
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3

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At least Im not the only one growing Butternut Squash through the winter period. Im experimenting. I love squash so I am trying to get some ready to eat by June next year.

Ok, the cold may kill them off but for the last couple of years, my garden has been most sunniest in Apr/May and not the summer months (I think Summer comes much earlier nowadays).

Therefore it is an experiment and I will also be planting sqaush seeds in Feb/mar too so I dont go without my Squash next year.

17/01/2009 07:46 AM	In reply to
john stanley Location: teesside, england Joined on: 03 Oct 2008 Posts: 9	Reply \| Contact hi lennie, i know this is a late reply but last year i grew butternut squash from seed from a shopbought squash, i planted the seedling in the greenhouse the same time i planted out the tomatoes(in a seperate greenhuse) in march, the squash grew enormous and invasive! and i got 5 large squashes off it. tasted lovely, but watch where it climbs, like i said it can be very invasive. john stanley, hartlepool.

17/01/2009 07:46 AM

In reply to

john stanley
Location:
teesside, england
Joined on:
03 Oct 2008
Posts:
9

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hi lennie, i know this is a late reply but last year i grew butternut squash from seed from a shopbought squash, i planted the seedling in the greenhouse the same time i planted out the tomatoes(in a seperate greenhuse) in march, the squash grew enormous and invasive! and i got 5 large squashes off it. tasted lovely, but watch where it climbs, like i said it can be very invasive. john stanley, hartlepool.

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