How Many Butternut Squash Per Plant?

Butternut squash is one of the best winter squash plants to grow and harvest for its sweet flavor, amazing orange color, and shelf life! Compared to summer squashes, butternut squashes are consumed after reaching a mature fruit stage when the rind has thickened and hardened. It’s a good source of complex carbs, fiber, potassium, iron, and beta carotene.

If you’re planning on growing it, or already are, then you’re probably wondering how many butternut squash per plant you can harvest. Read on to find out!

How Many Butternut Squash Per Plant

On average, a butternut squash plant can yield 3-6 butternut squashes. However, you can also expect 10-20 squash per plant if you care and maintain it properly.

The number would depend on many different factors, such as the size, variety, and overall health of your butternut squash plant. That is why you should consider these factors and care for your plant well to produce even more of these yummy winter squashes!

Let’s delve into these factors a bit further.

Remember that not all winter squash plants are made and grown equally. Some plants are small, therefore producing only a few squashes. Some can grow larger with vines, producing more than a dozen squashes.

The larger your butternut squash plant, the higher the yield. But other than the size, you should also have a healthy plant with a lot of long and vigorous vines. To have it grow larger and stronger, your plant needs to be well taken care of. The more leaves, flowers, and vines your plant will have, the more chances it can give you a lot of squash.

Get More Butternut Squash

As mentioned above, it all boils down to growing a healthy and large butternut squash plant of the right variety made for your area. Here are quick tips on how you can grow your plant to produce as much yield as you can:

• Make sure to give your plants enough space to grow, especially since squash plant vines would spread out quickly, taking up space over time. Space the plants out 3-4 feet apart from one another, and in rows of 8-10 feet apart. You may also want to consider using trellises that are 6-feet tall to support the growing plant and its yield.
• Use the right fertilizer for your plants to grow strong and healthy vines that can support plump squashes. The best fertilizer to use is a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer, as these plants need a bit of everything to grow large and high-quality fruits.
• Prevent diseases by monitoring your plant now and then for any signs of pests and infections. You’ll want to treat it right away with fungicide or other appropriate treatments. However, some diseases will permanently damage the plant and its surrounding area, so you’ll need to dispose of it properly and replant it when the time is right.
• Prevent diseases such as root rot by watering your plant properly. Avoid watering it on the leaves and focus on the top inches of the soil instead, being careful not to overwater.
• If you find signs of pest infestation, use insecticidal soap or insecticides during the evening.

Wrapping It Up

Most butternut squashes would produce between 3-6 squashes, though you can raise that number with proper care and maintenance. From giving it the nutrients it needs down to preventing diseases and pest infestations, your plant can grow large and healthy, thus producing the large squash you can enjoy!

Good luck with your butternut squash gardening!