I have tons of beautiful butternut squash in my garden, they arent quite ripe yet but they look great, my question is this......I realize they need to be yellow before picking, but how do I know exactly when they are perfectly ripe??
Second question, and this has mystified even the most intelligent gardeners I have spoken with, several of my "butternut" squash are dark green, the color of zucchini and shaped liked butternut, whats up with this? Are they a different variety and how do I know when they are ripe?
Thanks

Squash is usually ripe when it is big enough for you to eat. Buttnernut squash turns a pale salmoney color and the stem is dry. Also, the longer it grows, the sweeter it grows.

Hey...Found this interesting bit of info.
Squash will cross- pollinate with other types of squash. This cross-pollination will not result in off- flavored or off-colored fruit from this year's garden but if seed are saved for planting next year the result will be a combination. If yellow squash crosses with a zucchini squash and you plant the seed, the new plant will have the characteristics of both.

Thank you so much for the help, so IM guessing if my squash are 3 feet long but still yellowish-green, they arent ready for picking? I have lots that are huge but just not the right color yet. If I pick them and put them outside in the sun will they still ripen? some of them are just getting so big its ridiculous. I did find out that I can blanch and freeze them so this is a plus also. Thanks again