Counting days until ripe - Ask Extension
I am growing butternut squash for the first time. The instructions say it will take up to 120 days before being ready to pick. When do I start keepi...
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Counting days until ripe #947206
Asked October 16, 2026, 3:24 PM EDT
I am growing butternut squash for the first time. The instructions say it will take up to 120 days before being ready to pick.
When do I start keeping track of the days? From planting the seed until harvest? From seeing a fruit beginning to grow until harvest? From seeing the squash full size until harvest?
Thanks.
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
The 120 days is a general planting guideline. The time is from planting the seed to harvest.
But plants, like people, do not live by numbers of days. It depends on the weather, the soil, the water, the temp and so on. I am eating squash now.
As long as the leaves are green and the the stem near the ground is firm, it is still growing and can stay on the vine. Immediately pick up any squash that fall off the vine. Send me a picture of your stem at the ground.
The 120 days is a general planting guideline. The time is from planting the seed to harvest.
But plants, like people, do not live by numbers of days. It depends on the weather, the soil, the water, the temp and so on. I am eating squash now.
As long as the leaves are green and the the stem near the ground is firm, it is still growing and can stay on the vine. Immediately pick up any squash that fall off the vine. Send me a picture of your stem at the ground.
