-
eLengo is East Africa's farming hub, combining an online community, educational resources and dynamic marketplace to help you reach your full potential.
Guests may browse our forums, but to participate in the conversations you must be logged in. We encourage you to join now- it's easy and it's FREE!
(and it will make this box go away)
Other Crops Butternuts
- Thread starter primabel
- Start date
N
Naomi Oron
Guest
I found this online for you...
Choosing a site
Growing butternut squash at home or on the allotment is easy, given a sunny spot and a rich, free-draining soil. Plenty of compost and manure should be added to the soil when preparing the planting area. If you don't want to turn over the whole plot, you can prepare individual planting pockets, 45cm (18") wide and deep, spaced 1m (3ft) apart.
How to sow butternut squash seeds
Being large and flat, butternut squash seeds are easy to work with and make good sowing projects for children.
Sow individually in small pots filled with multi-purpose compost. Yoghurt pots are a good alternative. Sow the seeds about 1 inch deep on their sides. Place pots in a propagator or clear plastic bag and set on a warm windowsill until seeds germinate. At this point, remove covers but keep in the warmth.
Young butternut squash plants are easy to handle thanks to large foliage and thick stems but treat them delicately as you transfer them to the garden or allotment. Harden them off for a week or so, after all, danger of frosts and plant out.
Alternatively, sow outdoors in May in soil that has been pre-warmed with a cloche. Sow two seeds per station and thin to the strongest seedling if both seeds germinate.
How to grow butternut squash in pots
Trailing varieties are best left for the vegetable patch. For success in pots, choose compact bush varieties such as Barbara. Use the largest pot you can, aiming for a minimum of 45cm (18in) diameter and just as deep. Two plants should perform well in a grow bag. Set in a spot and water regularly to prevent compost from drying out.
Butternut squash growing tips
As plants begin to sprawl and grow into each other it can be hard to locate the center of the plant for watering. Set a cane by each plant when planting out to act as a marker later in the season.
Double up on space by growing butternut squash around the base of sweetcorn plants.
No space left on the veg patch? You can even try growing butternut squash directly on the compost heap!
Choosing a site
Growing butternut squash at home or on the allotment is easy, given a sunny spot and a rich, free-draining soil. Plenty of compost and manure should be added to the soil when preparing the planting area. If you don't want to turn over the whole plot, you can prepare individual planting pockets, 45cm (18") wide and deep, spaced 1m (3ft) apart.
How to sow butternut squash seeds
Being large and flat, butternut squash seeds are easy to work with and make good sowing projects for children.
Sow individually in small pots filled with multi-purpose compost. Yoghurt pots are a good alternative. Sow the seeds about 1 inch deep on their sides. Place pots in a propagator or clear plastic bag and set on a warm windowsill until seeds germinate. At this point, remove covers but keep in the warmth.
Young butternut squash plants are easy to handle thanks to large foliage and thick stems but treat them delicately as you transfer them to the garden or allotment. Harden them off for a week or so, after all, danger of frosts and plant out.
Alternatively, sow outdoors in May in soil that has been pre-warmed with a cloche. Sow two seeds per station and thin to the strongest seedling if both seeds germinate.
How to grow butternut squash in pots
Trailing varieties are best left for the vegetable patch. For success in pots, choose compact bush varieties such as Barbara. Use the largest pot you can, aiming for a minimum of 45cm (18in) diameter and just as deep. Two plants should perform well in a grow bag. Set in a spot and water regularly to prevent compost from drying out.
Butternut squash growing tips
As plants begin to sprawl and grow into each other it can be hard to locate the center of the plant for watering. Set a cane by each plant when planting out to act as a marker later in the season.
Double up on space by growing butternut squash around the base of sweetcorn plants.
No space left on the veg patch? You can even try growing butternut squash directly on the compost heap!