Squash

bobloes

Hi All

Just cut off two butternut squash and realised that they were not as brown/orange as they would normally be bought from a shop.  Can I leave them on a sunny windowsill?  They are a good 9 inches long.

Also I have a pumpkin which is about a foot in diameter and beautifully orange.  It is in a vulnerable position to a public pavement.  Can I cut it off and store it for my gkids?

Thanks

Bob

Hampshire Hog

Yes the butternuts will colour up and harden if not already, or you could just use them as the flesh inside won't change just the skin.
It is a little early to cut a pumpkin I would not usually do this to mid September but again if you feel it's vulnerable to theft or damage then check the skin if it's fairly hard then cut it and put it in the sun or a bright place as possible to harden up, it should then store no problem.

Mine are still on the vine and just beginning to harden.

bobloes

Thanks HH.  As you can see from my photo it is pretty healthy looking and when I knock the skin it feels hard so I shall also put it on my window sill until Halloween.  Apart from Americans does anyone eat them??

Hampshire Hog

Looks perfect. and yes people do eat pumpkin here in the UK.
 
It can be roasted, made into pie or my favorite is pumpkin soup, nothing better on a cold day to come home to a hot bowl of soup with crusty bread with lashings of butter