Growing butternut pumpkins in a home vegetable garden is easy to do. This versatile vegetable is delicious and packed with nutrients.
Butternut pumpkin is a type of winter squash, which means that the skin is hard and the fruit can be stored for several months after harvest. It is planted in spring and harvested in fall at about the same time as other types of pumpkins.
While commonly called butternut pumpkin in Australia and New Zealand, this plant is called butternut squash in the USA and UK, and Calabaza in Spanish-speaking regions.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to plant and care for this popular vegetable including harvesting and storage techniques.
Growing butternut pumpkins
Butternut pumpkin is an annual vining plant with large leaves. It is part of the Cucurbitaceae family which includes cucumbers, melons, squash, and pumpkins.
- Botanical name – Cucurbita moschata
- Size – Up to 18 inches tall (46 cm) and 15 feet wide (4.5 m)
- Sunlight needs – Full sun
- Soil requirements – Well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 – 7.0
- Hardiness zones – 2-11
- Harvest time – Fall
Here are some of the main things to be aware of to grow butternut squash successfully.
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Tips for planting butternut pumpkin seeds
Plant seeds after the last frost date in your area when the soil has warmed to at least 70°F (21°C). Winter squash has a long growing time, so make sure you plant early to ensure you will have ripe fruits before the first frost in fall.
Sow the seeds 1 inch deep in hills spaced a foot apart. The plant has a spreading habit and the leaves will cover a lot of ground quickly.
If you prefer, you can purchase seedlings instead of planting seeds. This is helpful if you are planting later in the spring.
Sunlight and soil needs for butternut pumpkins
Butternut pumpkins like a sunny location that gets 6 hours of sunlight a day.
The plants thrive in rich, warm, and fertile soil amended with lots of compost. They prefer a soil that is acidic to neutral, with a soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
Watering and fertilizing butternut squash
Keep butternut pumpkins evenly moist. They need at least an inch of water each week.
Apply mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Butternut pumpkins are heavy feeders. Feed with a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting time and add a high-potassium fertilizer in the middle of the growing season.
They will also benefit from feedings of liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Common pests and diseases that affect butternut pumpkins
Watch out for squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and squash vine borers. Row covers, neem oil, and insecticidal soap help to manage these pests.
Common diseases that affect the plant are powdery mildew, downy mildew, and bacterial wilt. Ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and practice crop rotation to minimize the risk of these diseases.
Choose disease-resistant varieties of butternut pumpkin when possible.
When to pick butternut pumpkins
Harvest butternut pumpkins when the skin is hard, deep orange colored, and the stem begins to dry out. This typically occurs about 80-100 days after planting.
It is a hint that the pumpkins are ready to harvest when the skin has a uniform color with no green streaks.
Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the fruit from the vine, leaving a 2-3 inch stem attached. Handle the pumpkins carefully to avoid bruising.
Cure the pumpkins by keeping them in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area for 10-14 days. This helps to harden the skin which allows them to be stored for longer.
Storing butternut pumpkins after harvest
Proper storage will help to extend the life of your crop. They can be stored for several months under ideal conditions.
Store butternut pumpkins in a cool, dry place with temperatures between 50-55°F (10-13°C).
Regularly check them for signs of spoilage, such as soft spots or mold.
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Butternut pumpkins, also known as butternut squash, are versatile vegetables that are easy to grow. Learn the secrets to growing, harvesting, and storing butternut pumpkins on The Gardening Cook. 🌱 #Gardening #ButternutPumpkin… Share on XPin this post for how to grow butternut squash
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Admin note: this post for growing butternut squash plants first appeared on the blog in June of 2013. I have updated the post to add new photos, and a video for you to enjoy.
Growing Butternut Squash - From Seed to Harvest
Butternut pumpkin, also known as butternut squash, is a vegetable that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.
Follow these tips, and you can help ensure a successful crop of winter squash this fall.
Print out the growing tips below and add them to your garden journal.
Materials
- Butternut pumpkin seeds
- Organic matter or compost
- Balanced fertilizer
- High potassium fertilizer
Tools
- Hose or watering can
Instructions
- Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.
- Add organic matter to the soil and till well.
- Plant seeds 1 inch deep in hills spaced 1 foot apart. You can also plant seedlings.
- Water consistently. Butternut pumpkins like at least 1 inch of water a week, particularly when setting fruit.
- Mulch the plant well to retain water and suppress weeds.
- Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer when planting.
- Add high potassium fertilizer halfway through the growing season.
- Butternut pumpkins have a long growing season of 80 - 100 days.
- Watch for signs of squash bugs, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and bacterial wilt. Treat if found.
- Pick when the skin has a uniform color with no green streaks.
- Store in a cool, dry place with temperatures between 50-55°F (10-13°C). They can be stored for several months under ideal conditions.
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