Butternut squash has so much to offer to anyone who grows it, even just a few plants. The broad range of shapes, colors, and flavors gives your garden and your plate endless possibilities.
This rich in carbohydrates, potassium, and vitamin C vegetable is one of the best to include in your garden and on your plate. [1]
The best thing about squash is that one plant can provide enough squash for one person. Sometimes, even more than one can eat.
So, how many butternuts squashes per plant can you get? Typically, you can get 3 to 6 butternut squash per plant. However, you can expect 10 or more if you pick a better variety and maintain the plant well.
In this article:
- How Many Squash Can You Get From One Plant?
- How To Get More Butternut Squash Per Plant?
- Pick The Right Variety For Your Garden
- Frequently Asked Questions About Squash Plants
How Many Squash Can You Get From One Plant?
The number of squash you get per plant depends on the size of the plant. The larger the plant, the more squash it usually has. The number of flowers and leaves on the plant also affects the amount you can expect to harvest. The more flowers and leaves the plant has, the more opportunities for butternut squash to form.
On average, you can get 3 to 6 squashes from a medium-sized plant. Small plants produce only a few butternut squashes, while large plants with many vines, leaves, and flowers yield as many as 10 to 20. The larger and healthier the plant, the larger will be the yield.
The number of squash per plant depends on these factors:
- Size – the larger butternut squash plants are, the bigger the harvest.
- Variety – some varieties produce small squashes in considerable quantities, while other types produce large squashes but only a few per plant.
- Health of plants – the healthier the plant, the more squashes you will get.
If you want to increase the yield of butternut squash, your plants should have vigorous vines, leaves, and flowers. You will need to roll up your sleeves and do some work to get these nice and healthy. Not too much, don’t worry!
How To Get More Butternut Squash Per Plant?
Squash has both male and female flowers. The pollen from male flowers fertilizes the female flowers. And that’s how babies are made… I mean… fruits are formed! Only female flowers transform into fruits, while male flowers will wilt and drop off.
The tips below will help you grow more and bigger squashes per plant.
Fertilize Your Plants
Use balanced organic fertilizer to get more butternut squash per plant. Apply this fertilizer throughout the growing season as specified on the label. Usually, it is once every two weeks (every 14 days). Using fertilizer will produce bigger and healthy vines and more flowers, leading to more squash per plant.
You can also make a homemade fertilizer. Just follow the steps in the video below.
How To Make Liquid Fertiliser & Black Gold by “Organic Edible Garden”
Pests Control
Many pests feed on squash plants. Healthy plants can handle a few insects, but some garden pests can leave you empty-handed. [2] These are:
- Aphids
- Squash Bugs
- Squash Vine Borers
You can use Neem oil or insecticidal soap in case of infestation. Avoid using chemical pesticides, as they will not only eliminate pests but will also destroy beneficial insects.
You can also make a homemade insecticide. Just follow the steps in the video below.
Disease Control
Like most cucurbits, butternut squash plants are susceptible to diseases affecting plant growth and yield. [3] Common diseases include:
- Downy mildew,
- Mosaic virus,
- Powdery mildew,
- Root rot.
Maintaining and caring for your garden can prevent some diseases. But if you need help dealing with these, use Neem oil. It is an effective organic fungicide and insecticide.
First, prune the infected leaves and spray the plants with Neem oil as described on the label (usually every 1 to 2 weeks) until the disease is eliminated. Never throw the infected leaves into the compost bin.
Also, avoid overwatering your plants to prevent root rot.
Give Enough Space
The squash vines spread quickly and cover a large area of your garden. Typically, you should space butternut squash 30 inches (76 cm) apart, but it depends on the plant variety. Check the plant spread on the seed packet. The distance between two squash plants (or any other plants) should be minimum as a full-grown plant spread (as in the picture above).
This will maximize the yield and prevent the overcrowding of plants. Use a sturdy trellis to support the vines allowing the squash to hang down from the vines to save some garden space.
Pick The Right Variety For Your Garden
To get more squash per plant, you must choose a variety that will grow best in your area. The best practice is to try out multiple varieties and pick your favorite. As an example, popular squash varieties are listed below:
Baked Potatoes Hybrid is fun-looking winter acorn squash. It grows into a compact plant that produces plenty of fruits with a sweet and nutty flavor.
| Rating | 5.0 |
| Color | Sand |
| Shape | Acorn |
| Days to Maturity | 105 days |
| Plant Spread | 10-11 ft (305-335 cm) |
| Plant Height | 27-30 in (69-76 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 4-5 in (10-13 cm) |
Lakota is an heirloom winter squash that is an excellent late-summer addition to a garden, but it can also be grown as summer squash. The fruit has deliciously sweet, fine-grained flesh. It is also an excellent decoration for a holiday time.
| Rating | 4.7 |
| Color | Orange with green stripes |
| Shape | Pear-shaped |
| Days to Maturity | 85-100 days |
| Plant Spread | 48-72 in (122-183 cm) |
| Plant Height | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 8-10 in (20-25 cm) |
Butterstick Hybrid summer squash is bright yellow zucchini with a firm texture and sweet, nutty flavor. These plants have a long harvest season and high yields.
| Rating | 4.6 |
| Color | Yellow |
| Shape | Straightneck |
| Days to Maturity | 50 days |
| Plant Spread | 18 in (46 cm) |
| Plant Height | 24-30 in (61-76 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 5-6 in (13-15 cm) |
Green Eggs Hybrid is a perfect grilling summer squash with a caramelized, nutty taste and creamy flesh. The plant is quick maturing and provides high yields.
| Rating | 4.5 |
| Color | Green |
| Shape | Oval |
| Days to Maturity | 50-55 days |
| Plant Spread | 36-72 in (91-183 cm) |
| Plant Height | 48-60 in (122-152 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 3-5 in (8-13 cm) |
Golden Egg Hybrid is fast-maturing summer squash. Fruits have delicious creamy flesh with hints of chartreuse. Plants are easy to grow, and they have high yields.
| Rating | 4.4 |
| Color | Yellow |
| Shape | Egg-shaped |
| Days to Maturity | 41 days |
| Plant Spread | 36-72 in (91-183 cm) |
| Plant Height | 26 in (66 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 4 in (10 cm) |
Early Summer Crookneck is an heirloom variety that will become one of your garden’s most productive and best-tasting squash plants.
| Rating | 4.3 |
| Color | Yellow |
| Shape | Crookneck |
| Days to Maturity | 53 days |
| Plant Spread | 24-36 in (61-91 cm) |
| Plant Height | 24-30 in (61-76 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 5-6 in (13-15 cm) |
Mashed Potatoes Hybrid is a fun shape winter squash that looks like mashed potatoes when cooked and fluffed (just a look, not the taste). The plant itself is not high. However, the spread is enormous. It will take up a lot of space.
| Rating | 4.2 |
| Color | White |
| Shape | Acorn |
| Days to Maturity | 100-105 days |
| Plant Spread | 156 in (396 cm) |
| Plant Height | 27 in (69 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 4-6 in (10-15 cm) |
Waltham Butternut winter squash is a delicious, winning butternut variety. The fruit interior is solid and dry, great for storing.
| Rating | 4.1 |
| Color | Sand |
| Shape | Pear-shaped |
| Days to Maturity | 85 days |
| Plant Spread | 46-60 in (117-152 cm) |
| Plant Height | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 12-15 in (30-38 cm) |
The Burpee Best Hybrid is a highly productive plant with an early harvest. It is easy to grow. Plants are strong and healthy.
| Rating | 3.9 |
| Color | Green |
| Shape | Straightneck |
| Days to Maturity | 40 days |
| Plant Spread | 60-72 in (152-183 cm) |
| Plant Height | 28-30 in (71-76 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 7-8 in (18-20 cm) |
The Delicata is an heirloom variety that tastes like a sweet potato. It is an easy-to-grow plant, and the vines produce plentiful cream-colored, green-striped oblong fruits.
| Rating | 3.8 |
| Color | Cream-colored, Green-striped |
| Shape | Oblong |
| Days to Maturity | 80-100 days |
| Plant Spread | 24-48 in (61-122 cm) |
| Plant Height | 10-12 in (25-30 cm) |
| Fruit Size | 3-8 in (8-20cm) |
Frequently Asked Questions About Squash Plants
How Much Squash Does Your Garden Produce Per Plant?
You can get 3 to 6 butternut squash per plant. However, if you maintain the plant well, you can get between 10 and 20 butternut squash per plant. A lot depends on the variety of your chosen plant.
How Deep Should You Plant Squash?
Squash seeds should be sown about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. Seedlings should be planted at a similar level as in a container when transplanting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant Squash?
The distance between squash plants depends on a variety. The space between two plants should be similar to a full-grown plant spread. So, if your chosen variety is spread by 30 inches (76 cm), the distance between plants should also be 30 inches (76 cm).
However, some seeds might not germinate. So, overseed! Plant seeds approximately 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) apart. If all of them grow, perfect! Prick them out and replant them or just pinch the weakest plants. But, in the end, the distance between the butternut squash plants should be the same as the spread.
How Long Does It Take For Squash Seeds To Germinate?
Squash seeds sprout within 7 to 10 days. It might take longer in colder weather.
How Long Does It Take For Squash To Grow?
Squash grows quickly. The amount of time it takes for squash to mature depends on plant variety. Some varieties can take as little as 40 days to develop, while others can take up to 100 days from sprouting to harvest.
How Long Does It Take For Squash To Grow After Flowering?
Summer squash is among the quickest vegetables to mature. It should be ready to harvest within 4 to 8 days after flowering.
Should You Remove Dead Leaves From Squash Plants?
Yes, like all cucurbit family plants, dead leaves of squash plants can be removed.
Can You Overwater Squash Plants?
It’s easy to overwater or underwater when it comes to squash plants. Overwatering can cause powdery mildew, and underwatering can cause blossom end rot.
Do Squash Plants Come Back Every Year?
Squash is an annual plant. New seeds are required to grow squash plants every year.
How Long Does It Take For Squash To Cook?
Large squash can take 90 min to cook. While squash cut into cubes can take only 20 min.
How Long Can You Store Squash?
Winter squash will last for 3-6 months. Summer squash lasts only three days. The thicker skin of winter squash makes it ideal for storage.
Can You Freeze Butternut Squash?
Yes, you can freeze squash. Just wash the fruit, peel it and cut it into cubes. Place it in a freezer-safe container. You can store it for up to 9 months.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article answered your question about how many squashes per plant you can get. If you enjoyed this article, you could find similar ones in our Gardening How To section. Learn and help your plants by reading these guides.
Also, check out our Growing Guides to learn more about how to grow plants of your choice. Learn and help your plants by reading these guides.
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