Knowledgebase
How to know when to harvest butternut squash #884946
Asked September 11, 2024, 8:59 PM EDT
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Butternuts is ready to harvest 2 weeks after the fruits have fully colored. They will develop a dull appearance with a rind that is difficult to puncture with your fingernail. Leave about 1-in. of fruit stem when you harvest.
Curing at recommended temps and RH is not practical for most gardeners. They will store just fine in your basement without curing, especially if they are free of cuts and abrasions. If possible, store the fruits in a single layer on slats or newspaper where air can circulate around them.
You can encourage starch to sugars conversion by temporarily storing harvested fruits for a week in the garden or on a porch or other protected (from wildlife) outdoor location.
We haven't tried the mini-butternut varieties but reputable sources claim they can be eaten right after harvest, although we suspect they will be sweeter one month after harvest.
Some good resources:
https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/newsletters/vegetable-notes/vegetable-notes-2024-vol-3622#squash
https://extension.psu.edu/harvesting-and-storing-pumpkin-and-winter-squash
Jon
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab/files/research/files/farmreports-15490-carey.pdf
For future reference, you could compare the flavor and sweetness of fruits stored for 2 weeks and 4 weeks.
Jon