Trying to Save Squash

I've been trying for years to raise a squash crop and they've been dying. This year they're still here so I'm listing here a few things I think may have saved my squash and stymied my squashbugs. Please add any ideas or opinions you may have. I keep getting excited by all the squash threads and would love some feedback.

1. Checking for eggs/ nymphs every other day.
2. Removing any leaves where nymphs have managed to hatch. (my theory was that if the little suckers had injected bacteria I wanted to amputate before it got carried down to the main part of the plant)
3. Spraying dawn and water mixture after the bees leave in the morning.
4. Having vast quantities of cucurbits(sp?) and tomatoes nearby to distract them and lure them away.

I am a beginner too - this is my fourth summer but there is so much to learn. I think that the soap everyday is too much. I only use the soap if I see bugs. Good luck!
cinski

This message was edited Aug 2, 2008 3:52 AM

I planted my first squash this spring. I thought I planted yellow crook neck squash as the label on the plant said "summer squash" but from some plant ID sites I found out they are butternut squash. I have harvested 2 of them, one because it was growing so big I thought it might break the vine. Now it is the correct "ripe" color--a yellowish tan. Then I read another article that said to pick them young when they are about 8-9 inches long, which I did for my second one. The problem is that it is light green in color. I have searched everywhere but can find no info on how to get it to rippen. Some say a sunny indow others to wrap in newspaper and put into a brown bag. Does anyone out there know the correct answer? Then I read something today that says they are "winter" squash!! Does this mean I should leave them on the vine untill fall or winter?? Help! I'm so confused and have a bunch of baby squash out there. Can someone give me some advise? And please--no more guessers. Answer this only if you are an experienced grower with successful, edible butternut squash harvests in the past. Thanks!

Butternut squash can be used as a summer squash when young. Before the color turns and the skin hardens. There are many cultivars which vary is size, so unless you know the specific cultivar, size is not a useful criteria. Mostly, tho, they are grown as a winter squash. In which case you leave them on the vine until they reach full mature color and the skin is too hard to cut with a fingernail. I normally leave all winter squash until the the vine begins to die back or just before first frost, whichever comes first. They need to ripen ON the vine. When fully matured they can be stored for 4 -6 months. but an immature squash picked early will shrivel, rot, and never attain flavor.