How can you tell when Butternut squash is ripe?

gone 2 seed · Jun 27, 2009

I have tons of butternut on the vines but have no idea how to tell when they are ripe.

me&thegals · Jun 27, 2009

Hi--wow. Must be nice to have that even a consideration down there! Mine haven't even bloomed yet.

All winter squash and pumpkins are ripe when you can no longer gouge into the skin with a thumbnail. Good luck!

obsessed · Jun 27, 2009

What if they get picked a bit early? What happens then? I may have picked a few a bit soon.

gone 2 seed · Jun 27, 2009

I must have over 100 from tiny to a couple pounds. I over planted butternut squash big time.

rockytopsis · Jun 28, 2009

I grew butternuts last year and when they started to turn closer to the brown color that you see in stores, I cut them off of the vine.

Ridgerunner · Jun 28, 2009

obsessed said:
What if they get picked a bit early? What happens then? I may have picked a few a bit soon.

I would expect that they won't store well. You might want to eat these pretty soon. And don't save the seed from these. They are probably immature.

obsessed · Jun 28, 2009

Thanks!!!!!!!!!