Butternut Squash Seeds

West Coast Seeds, Butternut Squash Seeds - Additional Information

How to Grow Butternut Squash

Planting Schedule:
Begin your butternut squash journey in late spring once the threat of frost has passed and the soil has sufficiently warmed. For a head start, initiate seeds indoors in early May.

Aim for a soil temperature of 25-35°C (77-95°F) for optimal germination, expecting sprouts within 7-14 days.


Seed Starting:
Plant seeds 2cm (1 inch) deep into the soil—group three seeds at each planting site, thinning out to leave only the strongest seedling per group.

Space plants 45-60cm (18-24 inches) apart in rows, allowing 90-120cm (36-48 inches) between each row for summer squash and even more space for winter varieties.


Growing:
Butternut squash plants thrive in a soil pH of 6.0-6.8 and are voracious feeders. Enrich the planting area with 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer per plant. Initially, plants will produce male flowers, followed by female flowers identifiable by the small fruit at their base.

Encourage efficient pollination, which is essential for fruit development, by attracting bees with Phacelia, sunflowers, or buckwheat planted nearby.


Harvesting:

• Summer Squash: Harvest regularly when fruits are small to encourage continuous production.
• Winter Squash: Determine ripeness when the skin resists indentation from your thumbnail and the stem has turned dry and brown. Harvest before the first frost for optimal storage, leaving about 4cm (2 inches) of stem on the fruit.
• Storage: Cure squash in sunlight for 10 days or indoors in a warm area for 4-5 days. To prevent mould, clean the squash skins with a diluted bleach solution. Store in a cool, dry place at 10-15°C (50-60°F) with good airflow, such as a garage shelf, for extended freshness.

Butternut Squash Pests & Diseases

Squash Vine Borer:
The squash vine borer is a larval pest that burrows into the stems, causing plants to wilt and potentially die.

Wrap the base of the squash plants with aluminum foil to prevent the borer from laying eggs on the lower stems. Practice crop rotation to reduce pest populations in the soil.

If you notice the borer’s frass (sawdust-like waste) near the base of the plant, carefully slit the stem and remove the borer. Then, cover the damaged area with soil to encourage rooting and plant recovery. In severe cases, use appropriate insecticides, following label instructions closely.


Powdery Mildew
This fungal disease appears as white, powdery spots on leaves, reducing the plant's vigour.

Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants properly and pruning overly dense foliage. Water plants at the soil level to avoid wetting leaves.

Apply sulphur or a baking soda solution as a preventative measure. For established infections, use fungicides labelled explicitly for powdery mildew on vegetables, adhering to application guidelines.


Bacterial Wilt:
Bacterial wilt is caused by bacteria transmitted by cucumber beetles, leading to wilted and dying plants.

Control cucumber beetle populations to prevent the spread. Practice good sanitation by removing and disposing of infected plants from the garden area.

Once a plant is infected, there is no cure for bacterial wilt. To protect the rest of your garden, focus on preventing and promptly removing affected plants.