when to harvest butternut squash?

Question

I'm growing butternut squash but don't know how to tell when they are ready to pick.

I live in Florida (no frost) and my butternut squashes are bigger than a softball. When can I harvest them?

Answer 1

They are similar to growing pumpkins you usually don't pick them until the 1st frost, otherwise, they are not fully ripened.
I've been cooking that squash for my 11 year old grandaughter for 10 1/2 years. She eats it almost everyday except in the summer when we can't get them.
I used to grow them but it's too hard on an old lady.
Good Luck!

http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/squash_butternut_12-9-05.htm
Butternut is a winter variety,
one of the squashes with hard exterior shell and large, hard-shelled seeds. Because of their thick rind they can be stored for several months unlike their relatives, the thin skinned summer squash. Butternut is the tan colored, elongated, smooth skinned squash with a swollen base. It and the familiar acorn squash are the two most common winter squashes seen in groceries.

Answer 2

You can harvest them up to the time of frost if you live in a cooler climate. Winter squash, such as a butternut normally need at least 100 days from germination to harvest.

Answer 3

They will keep growing til they are huge so pick them when they are the size you like the best. The color will be nice also.