When is butternut squash ripe

[CMF]

I would love to get some info on picking butternut squash. I
planted early this year and the vines are huge and so are the fruits.
About 10-12 of them have turned the creamy tan color - many others are
obviously not ready. I read once where if your finger nail could not
dent the stem of fruit (i.e. it is rock hard) then the fruit is ready
to be picked. That was always fine in the fall because the plants
were dying and I wasn't going to lose any production. In the past the
stems were always brown. The stems now are rock hard but green. I
would like to take them off if they are ripe - to protect from damage
but also to take some of the load off the plant so the other fruits
will ripen. Should I pick them or be patient?

Thanks so much,

Cathy

[The Useful Gardener]

Hi, Cathy!

The usual indicator, as you already know, is to watch for the skin to
turn a deeper tan - from that really light beige to a deep tan color.
I thinking dentable skin just means way overmature squash - like in
the stores. I'd start picking with the ones that look most likely...
see how they are and judge the rest accordingly. I've always just left
mine on the vine... but often I then get some slug or bug damage, so
now I'm looking more favorably on harvesting as soon as they are
ready. Too many years, I've harvested what I could because borers were
wiping out the vine.

Some squash behave like melons, with stems that lose color but I'm not
really sure about butternuts since, like you, I generally have an
entire vine turning brown when I'm harvesting. If you can tug the
fruit loose easily, that would be a good clue. Otherwise, I'd leave a
couple inches of stem on the squash and let them start curing.

Harvested butternuts are said to be better if they've been "cured" -
just let sit - for a week or so at least. If you've had problems with
fungal spots, just dip each squash in a wash of water with a capful of
bleach added - that will kill off any surface fungus spores.

And please do post a report to let us all know what you discovered by
the best method - trial and error - in your garden!

Happy Gardening!
Sybil