Bit of a problem with the butternut squash...

[Icanseethesea]

It's taking over the world!!!!
Honestly, it's huge, has spread all over the vegetable plot. However, from what I can see there doesn't seem to be alot of flower on it. There are a few small fruits, but one of them had started to rot, and another seems to have been eaten. I am toying with the idea of cutting off some the leaves to give the fruits a chance, but I am not sure that's what you do with these. Any advice gratefully received (before the butternut invades...{grin])

[Icanseethesea]

bump

help, anyone?!

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

we have the same with a pumpkin plant - it has taken over the garden but not set a single pumpkin as they keep rotting off - I've just given up hope and am now letting it run riot.

[missingtheaction]

lift the fruits off the ground - at least put some straw under them, ideally let them climb up your beanpoles or something like that. They do rot and get eaten, really this wet weather is the last thing they want at this stage. They need damp roots and hot fruit but no chance of that at the moment!

And cut off the vine after a fruit so the fruit is at the end of the line - that way the plant will concentrate on growing the fruit to a good size. Feed it too.

[Icanseethesea]

Thanks, missingtheaction, I'll do that today (in the rain!)

[missingtheaction]

this was on gardener's question time today - Bob Flowerdew said the fruits get rot when the flowers get wet when they are first forming. Usually a problem if you are watering with a watering can and the water splashes up, but this year a problem from the rain of course. Anyway, basic premise is try to keep them dry so hoik them up off the ground. He also said don't expect more than 3 or 4 fruits per plant - and that would be in a good year. So get chopping too (sob).