unblemished butternut squash

tjg911 · September 24, 2010

i harvested 18 of the possible 23 squash ( 5 are still on the vine) and of the 18 not a single one had any scarring. normally about 33% have light brown lesions on the skin that are very hard and don't peel when i use a peeler on the skin and these don't store as well as unblemished fruits. it was a very hot summer with near drought conditions this year i can only assume that due to a lack of moisture the squash bugs were not out there or no moisture on the squash kept them from chewing the skin. it's amazing to see every single squash with perfect unblemished skin.

RinTinTin · September 24, 2010

That is great. Were you using straw mulch, or anything to keep them off of the ground?

dustdevil · September 26, 2010

I just got back from SD and the grasshoppers are like a plague around Rapid City. One woman I talked to had an 18" squash chewed back to the stem by them.

tjg911 · September 26, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by RinTinTin

That is great. Were you using straw mulch, or anything to keep them off of the ground?

no the usual method was used they just grow on the ground. but this year the ground was dry 99% of the time.

September 24, 2010	#1
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	unblemished butternut squash i harvested 18 of the possible 23 squash ( 5 are still on the vine) and of the 18 not a single one had any scarring. normally about 33% have light brown lesions on the skin that are very hard and don't peel when i use a peeler on the skin and these don't store as well as unblemished fruits. it was a very hot summer with near drought conditions this year i can only assume that due to a lack of moisture the squash bugs were not out there or no moisture on the squash kept them from chewing the skin. it's amazing to see every single squash with perfect unblemished skin. __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

September 24, 2010	#2
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	That is great. Were you using straw mulch, or anything to keep them off of the ground?

September 26, 2010	#3
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	I just got back from SD and the grasshoppers are like a plague around Rapid City. One woman I talked to had an 18" squash chewed back to the stem by them.