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Will butternut squash ripen off the vine?
This is a two-part question:
1. Mishandling of my butternut squash vine resulted in 3 big squashes coming off their stems. They are big but still mostly green striped with a little tan color starting. Will they ripen if stashed in a cool, dark place? If not, are they good to eat?
2. If they don't ripen, can they be chopped and fed to chickens and goats? I give my friend vegetable scraps for her chickens and goats but only if I know they're ok to feed. I might have to post that as a separate question in a different category.
It breaks my heart to waste food, especially my favorite foods. It's a productive vine but 3 squash is a lot of food.
3 Answers
- 10 years agoFavorite Answer
I'm sorry to hear about your squashes! The funny thing about winter squash is that some will continue to ripen and some just won't. I can only assume that it has something to do with the stage of under-ripeness at which they're harvested, but I haven't noticed any particular pattern to it. My best guess would be to put them where you would normally cure them--a warm room with relatively high humidity--and watch to see if the green recedes. If they don't ripen, I wouldn't eat them. They certainly won't hurt you, but the flesh is unpleasant tasting and hard. If you decide not to eat them, then definitely give them to the livestock. My chickens love squashes of all kinds, and I like to feed them squash because the fruit is good for this time of year--the chickens can stay hydrated by eating the moist flesh. And goats can eat just about anything with a smile, so I'm confident that they'll like it.
Source(s): Many seasons of feeding chickens any winter squash that wasn't marketable. - Ginny HLv 510 years ago
Your squash don't sound like they are even close to being ripe, and I would just give them to your friend for the chickens and/or goat, they will love them. The chickens will need to have them cut in half to reveal the soft insides. Just before you plan to deliver them though, I would cut one open to see how it looks inside...it should be dark orange if ripe...just to be sure they aren't edible...Don't want to give them away if they are edible!
