A groundhog has moved into my back yard and I’m terrified he’s going to find these and go to town. If they’re not ready what can I look for to signal that they are? It’s my first time growing winter squash.
by Sun_Representative
14 Comments
RB676BR
Probably too early. Ideally the stem needs to be corked. Just leave them on the plant until either the plant dies or you get a hard frost, then bring them in. You just need a little patience!
Edit: Just read about your groundhog! You can definitely eat those guys now (the squash not the groundhog), but they likely won’t store for as long as they could. As I say you want the stem to be all brown and corked before they are perfectly ready to bring in and cure.
Scrozziejoones
All winter squash are best after they get a few hard frosts on them and the vines start dying. The frosts will help the rind harden, and the squash will last much longer.
For real fun, try growing ‘Blue Hubbard’ which will put butternut to shame for flavor, and size.
Davekinney0u812
Could be a myth but I’ve seem some use a natural based wood glue diluted in water with a whole whack of cayenne pepper mixed in and painted on the squash. Intuitively it works as a repellant but not sure if it really does. Might be worth looking into more.
forprojectsetc
Can you wrap the squash in hardware cloth?
Won’t help if the groundhog just eats the plants.
ReactionAble7945
I would consider making a cage out of fencing for the squash.
I would consider a live trap for the ground hog. Some places you can deport them. Some places you can’t. Younger ones are suppose to be good eating. They are vegetarian so in theory basically dark meat chicken.
Cardchucker
I use draw string mesh produce bags for situations like that. I’ve never had an animal try to eat through them.
Kentonh
YMMV, but we cut them around this time of year, and let them cure off the vine in a warm, sunny spot for a couple weeks before storing in a cool, dry area.
spaetzlechick
They are not ripe. Go to mechanical methods of protection or fencing.
whistlenilly
Without a fence or chicken wire, what do you use to keep wildlife from eating your melons, pumpkins, and squash on the vines? Cayenne pepper works pretty well and to keep the pepper from sliding off the melons and squash, I first make a mixture of water with just a drop of dish soap and a tiny bit of olive oil. I use a spray bottle to spray the fruit or squash first, then wait an hour for the water to dry but a film of oil is left on the melons or squash and then sprinkle it with cayenne pepper. The tiny bit of soap in the water detours most insects, and the light film of olive oil keeps the pepper in place. I found the soap often dries with the water and doesn’t hold the cayenne pepper in place as well as adding just a tiny bit of oil to the water too.
GentlemanUrbanFarmer
Butternut squash are ready to harvest when your fingernail barely leaves a dent in the skin. If they’re not there, I’d protect them with a loose wrap of hardware cloth
onlineashley
I pick mine when the color is all golden no green. The stem should be browning and when you press your nail in skin it shouldnt puncture it. These need more time.
stevierea
Press into it lightly with your thumb nail, if it leaves a mark then it’s ready. This is what we do on the organic farm I work at.
k3c3t3
Not yet! They aren’t ripe enough.
happygardener17
Shake some cayenne pepper or ghost pepper on them to keep the ground hogs from eating them.
14 Comments
Probably too early. Ideally the stem needs to be corked. Just leave them on the plant until either the plant dies or you get a hard frost, then bring them in. You just need a little patience!
Edit: Just read about your groundhog! You can definitely eat those guys now (the squash not the groundhog), but they likely won’t store for as long as they could. As I say you want the stem to be all brown and corked before they are perfectly ready to bring in and cure.
All winter squash are best after they get a few hard frosts on them and the vines start dying. The frosts will help the rind harden, and the squash will last much longer.
For real fun, try growing ‘Blue Hubbard’ which will put butternut to shame for flavor, and size.
Could be a myth but I’ve seem some use a natural based wood glue diluted in water with a whole whack of cayenne pepper mixed in and painted on the squash. Intuitively it works as a repellant but not sure if it really does. Might be worth looking into more.
Can you wrap the squash in hardware cloth?
Won’t help if the groundhog just eats the plants.
I would consider making a cage out of fencing for the squash.
I would consider a live trap for the ground hog. Some places you can deport them. Some places you can’t. Younger ones are suppose to be good eating. They are vegetarian so in theory basically dark meat chicken.
I use draw string mesh produce bags for situations like that. I’ve never had an animal try to eat through them.
YMMV, but we cut them around this time of year, and let them cure off the vine in a warm, sunny spot for a couple weeks before storing in a cool, dry area.
They are not ripe. Go to mechanical methods of protection or fencing.
Without a fence or chicken wire, what do you use to keep wildlife from eating your melons, pumpkins, and squash on the vines? Cayenne pepper works pretty well and to keep the pepper from sliding off the melons and squash, I first make a mixture of water with just a drop of dish soap and a tiny bit of olive oil. I use a spray bottle to spray the fruit or squash first, then wait an hour for the water to dry but a film of oil is left on the melons or squash and then sprinkle it with cayenne pepper. The tiny bit of soap in the water detours most insects, and the light film of olive oil keeps the pepper in place. I found the soap often dries with the water and doesn’t hold the cayenne pepper in place as well as adding just a tiny bit of oil to the water too.
Butternut squash are ready to harvest when your fingernail barely leaves a dent in the skin. If they’re not there, I’d protect them with a loose wrap of hardware cloth
I pick mine when the color is all golden no green. The stem should be browning and when you press your nail in skin it shouldnt puncture it. These need more time.
Press into it lightly with your thumb nail, if it leaves a mark then it’s ready. This is what we do on the organic farm I work at.
Not yet! They aren’t ripe enough.
Shake some cayenne pepper or ghost pepper on them to keep the ground hogs from eating them.