When the butternut squash is ripe and ready for harvesting, it can be difficult to tell due to its tough outer rind and long growth time. Although squash can ripen off the vine, the best and easiest way to get the most flavorful squash is to leave them on the vine until they are perfectly ripe.
For the best flavor and nutrition from butternut squash, follow these tips.
When Should You Pick Butternut Squash?
Butternut squash is creamy, sweet, and nutty – a perfect fall and winter vegetable for soups, casseroles, risotto, pasta, and desserts. If you pick it too early, it will be flavorless and tough. If you pick it too late, it will be mushy or even dried out.
The good news is that there are 6 easy ways to tell when butternut squash is ready for harvesting. If you’d like more tips and insights on growing butternut squash, check out our guide.
A Brown, Dried Stem
Squash stems will be thick and green during the growing season when they connect to the fruit. The stem of the squash turns brown and starts to dry as it matures.
In this case, the squash is ready to be harvested as it has no more nutrients to absorb. Butternuts that are left on the vine well past maturity will have an easy time coming off their stems.
Butternuts should be harvested before this happens, as the old, dying stem can become infected with mold, which can damage them. You should never eat moldy food and instead compost it if you find it.
Deep Tan Rind Color
The skin of butternut squash is pale white or yellow-green with darker green lines running along its length. It takes time for those lines to fade away, and the rind turns deep tan as it ages. The color of ripe squash will be soft and matte.
Although butternut squash does not turn brown when overripe like bananas or other fruits, you will still notice a color difference and spotted or damaged skin. The color of ripe squash will be soft and matte.
Butternut squash is a beige color when it is fully ripe; the darker the color, the better. Cuts or blemishes along the skin can indicate insects, fungi, or bacteria have infested the squash, which should be thrown away.
Unless there are signs of green on the butternut squash, there should be no green. In the past, I have made this mistake and ended up with a disappointing dinner. There was still a long way to go before the squash was ready!
Hard, Tough Rind
The rind of butternut squash becomes hard and protective as it matures. Test the rind by pressing your fingernail gently into it (be careful not to damage the rind, as this can let in bacteria that cause rot).
Butternuts that dent easily aren’t quite ready. When the rind resists denting, it’s ready for harvesting. Another tip I always use is this. Whenever you pick a butternut squash, make sure the stem is about 2 inches long.
As a result, the squash will last longer, protected against bacteria that cause it to rot. Whenever I don’t intend to eat the squash immediately, I use this tip.
It Has Reached Maximum Weight
Decide what the mature size and weight of the butternut squash should be based on the type of squash you are growing. In this way, you will be able to determine when your squash are ready to be harvested.
Compared to its size, a ripe butternut feels heavy in your hands because it’s juicy and moist.
Growth Rate
Butternut squash plants typically reach maturity in 110-120 days after being planted or grown from seeds.
This is why you should mark the date you planted the crop on your calendar as well as the date you expect it to be harvested. You should keep in mind that this is just a guideline, and factors such as climate, nutrients, and soil conditions can affect how long your crop takes to mature.
Taking weekly measurements of your butternuts and tracking their growth is a good idea. They will stop growing once they reach maturity. In other words, if they haven’t changed size for a week or two and it’s around harvesting time, they’re ready.
Tapping the Rind
The tapping method is another way to tell when butternut squash is ripe. Make gentle taps with your knuckles against the butternut squash. Upon hearing a hollow sound, the squash is ripe and ready to be harvested or eaten.
It needs more time on the vine if it still sounds solid. This method can also be used to determine when melons are ripe. Similarly to testing eggs for freshness, you can determine if your squash is bad if you are worried that it has gone bad.
Fill a large bucket with water and place your squash in it. Floating above the bottom or staying on the bottom indicates it is fresh. You will be able to see if it has gone bad by the fact that it will float to the surface.
Will Butternut Squash Ripen Off the Vine?
Once the fruit is mature and mostly changed from green to tan, butternut squash will ripen off the vine. A temperature of 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity level of around 80% will help the squash mature.
Ripening may also be aided by placing it on the counter in the sunlight and rotating it every day. In storage, these squash won’t last as long as those that are mature on the vine, so eat them up right away.
What Can You Do With Unripe Butternut Squash?
Many gardeners find that they have to harvest their last butternuts before the first frost sets in because you have to harvest your butternut squash before the first frost.
If you store them at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity level of around 80% for 10 days, they should ripen. A countertop in the sunlight can also be used to ripen them.
How Many Butternut Squash Does One Plant Produce?
Butternut plants can produce around ten to twenty squash with the right climate, sunlight, and nutrition. For this reason, growing butternut squash is a rewarding experience, although you must allow enough space for their vines to spread since they grow 9-18 inches high and up to 15 feet wide.
How Do You Store Butternut Squash After Picking?
As well as freezing cooked or raw butternut squash, you can also store them whole. You can extend the life of the squash by leaving a stem of at least 2 inches on it when harvesting.
Butternut squash can be stored for 2-4 months in a dark place (cupboard, cellar, pantry, or shelf) at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure they don’t touch each other or anything else while they are being stored, and turn them once a week or so and check them for soft spots or stems, which may indicate rot.
Compost squashes that become soft.
The Best Time to Pick Butternut Squash – Quick Tips
Harvesting butternut squash at the right time is crucial in order to get the best flavor from this fall and winter staple if you’re growing it at home.
Squash can be stored for up to 4 months if harvested at the right time and left with a 2-inch stem. Our tips are as follows:
- The squash should be uniformly tan with a hard, matte rind that does not dent.
- It should be turning brown and drying out at this point.
- Butternut squash should be heavy in your hands and should be within the range of weight and size for that type.
- You should hear a hollow sound when you tap the squash.
You’ll know exactly when to pick butternut squash when you see all these signs!