Our work began in mid-May when we planted transplants on biodegradable plastic, a sustainable choice that helps protect our fields. New, efficient squash planters streamlined our process this season, making planting smoother and supporting our focus on locally grown UK produce. Yet for a successful butternut crop, the real work starts once planting is complete, as these plants are highly sensitive to even small changes in weather.

Maintaining plant vigour and managing growth requires meticulous care, and for that, we turn to a technique known as fertigation. Unlike traditional fertilizing methods, fertigation allows us to deliver nutrients precisely through the irrigation system, getting essential nourishment directly to the plants. This method not only supports robust plant growth but also reduces overall fertilizer use, making it an efficient and sustainable choice. Our approach has allowed us to carefully nurture the plants, even though unpredictable British weather, maximizing their ability to thrive.

Through fertigation, the plants developed a strong leaf canopy, capturing essential sunlight to fuel flower and fruit production. Despite fewer hours of sunshine and cloudier-than-average days this summer, our adaptive strategies helped the plants mature into a vibrant carpet of butternut squash. By autumn, these fruits—initially green—slowly cured in the sunlight, turning into the distinctive pale colour that signals readiness for harvest.

October brought the season’s reward, and our team moved into the fields with harvesting rigs to cut, collect, and box up the crop. Each butternut squash offers more value, featuring a small seed cavity, meaning more flesh per squash. Combined with its excellent shelf life, our UK-grown butternut is a reliable, high-quality choice for consumers, bringing lasting freshness and flavour to kitchens nationwide.