Question
hi.i'm kinda new to planting vegetables soi thought i should give it a go.anyway i am growing butternut squash and i was wondering.they have fallen down a bit(they are still green and alive).is this normal.do i need to support them with bamboo sticks?oh and one of my stems have split,the stem is still green but will it die?oh i live in Taunton in the southwest of England

Answer
Squash are vining plants and will fall over if left unsupported.  You can either stake them or allow them to grow up a net attached to a trellis.  If you do let them sprawl, be sure to keep the ripening fruit off the ground by placing boards under the fruit.

The splitting problem will not kill the plant, as long as it is not at the base of the main stem.  You may want to wrap the area with aluminum foil to keep out squash borers.  Once the borer enters the plant, the plant will die.  This is a problem here in the states, but it may not be a concern in England.  But I would prefer to error on the safe side.

Good luck, and thanks for writing.

Regards,

Mike