Winter squash 'Butternut'

Bees are necessary for pollination and fruit production, so take care with insecticides ¹

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Butternut is thought of as tender, so it is really important to plant out well after your last frost date. Try to keep the ph of your soil between the range of 6.1 and 7.5 as Butternut likes to be in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil.

Butternut, like other winter squash, is frost-tender. ¹ The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, and the seedlings are injured by frost. Do not plant until all danger of frost is past and soil is thoroughly warmed. ¹

Sow at a depth of approx. 0.98 inches (2.5 cm) and aim for a distance of at least 3.90 feet (1.20 metres) between Winter squash plants. Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Butternut about 10 days before your last frost date.

The vining types of squash require at least 50 to 100 square feet per hill. Plant seeds one inch deep (four or five seeds per hill). Allow 5 to 6 feet between hills. When the young plants are well-established, thin each hill to the best two or three plants. Allow 7 to 12 feet between rows. ¹

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Butternut is a tender plant.

Although you can wait for the entire fruit to be ripe, you can also harvest the immature fruit to use in stews, roasted veg, etc. For baby butternut, harvest when they are less than 10 cm (4 inches) long. For mature fruit, harvest before heavy frost hits your area ¹.

This variety tends to be ready for harvesting by mid autumn.

Butter nut

Butternut Squash

¹ University of Illinois Extension