Squash. Harvest or wait a while longer

Forester_Pete

Hi. This is my first year with any success at all with squash and that is limited to two plants but I have a few good large butternut squash's now. As they are plenty big enough should I harvest them and ripen elsewhere and would that help the few other smaller ones develop? Or leave them be?

Obelixx

I would wait but lift as many as you can up into the sunshine to help them ripen and keep the plants watered if you've been hit by drought. 

I leave mine till late September/mid October when they've gone a soft caramel colour.   Cut off any flowers and really tiny squashes to let all the energy go to th eones that will give you something of a size you can eat.

scroggin

As Obelixx has said leave them as long as you can, they'll be fine on the plant up to the first frosts. For storing the skin wants to harden . I'd remove any small ones and nip out the growing tips if you haven't already.
They store really well and I have kept them stored in good condition till the following spring.

Forester_Pete

Thanks both. Good advice as always.

Obelixx

Pleasure.  We ate one of last year's butternuts in a curry on Saturday.   Just one more left so, given a hard skin and ventilation they do store well.