Squash
Squash (Butternut) Hornet F1
The most popular type of winter squash, butternuts are surprisingly easy and trouble free to grow. The large heavy fruits will store for several months once harvested and provide generous quantities of colourful and deliciously sweet tasting flesh. Perfect for those warming winter soups, for mash and roasting.
Growing Advice
Sow Indoors
Sow indoors March to May. Sow edge downwards, 1.5cm deep into individual pots of compost. Water well and place in a warm, light position, away from cold draughts and out of intense, direct sunlight. Keep the compost just moist and be careful not to overwater, the compost should almost dry out before it is watered again. Seedlings should start to appear in approximately 7-21 days. In late May, acclimatise plants to outside conditions. Place pots outside in a sheltered spot during the day and bring them inside again at night when the temperature falls. Do this for a week or two, until the plants have hardened off. Plant out to a sunny growing position spaced 90cm apart. Keep the soil moist at all times and remove any weeds as they appear.
Sow Outdoors
Sow outdoors in May. Butternut squashes can be sown outdoors for ease. Choose a sunny, sheltered location for best results and wait until the soil has warmed up, ideally to around 10°C or more. If the soil is very heavy, cold or waterlogged an indoor sowing is preferable. Squashes like good fertile soil so it’s worth digging in a slow release fertiliser or some organic matter before you start. Sow edge downwards, 5cm deep directly where plants are to grow, spaced 90cm apart. Gently firm the soil and keep moist. Remove any weeds as they appear. Early sowings will benefit from cloche protection.
Top Tips About Seeds
- Once the seed packet has been opened, the seeds can be stored in an airtight container until required for further sowings.
- Butternut squash seeds will maintain their vigour for a good number of years.
Growing in Containers
Butternut squashes form large plants and are not recommended for growing in patio pots.
Common Problems
Late in the season mildew often begins to affect the leaves, by this stage the fruit should be well developed and ripening so it is unlikely to affect the quality of the squashes. Sometimes aphids can affect weak young plants and in the worst cases spread disease to the plant. With care aphids can be washed off and removed from the plant. To make it difficult for aphids keep the plants well watered and strong.
Harvest
Harvest from September from November. It is best to gather them as late as possible but before the first frosts set in. The fruits are ready when the stem hardens and turns woody and the fruit should sound hollow when tapped.
Ideas on how to use your Squash
When plants begin to flower and produce fruit, a regular watering with a liquid feed will help to maximise the crop. It is import to water plants regularly as irregular ‘boom and bust’ watering will result in poor quality fruit. It may also weaken the plants enough to succumb to mildew. Placing the developing fruit on a mulch such as straw or even old roof tiles will keep them up off the ground and prevent rotting in damp conditions or discolouration of the skin.
