When do you harvest butternut squash?

Butternut squash is typically harvested from late September through the end of October. Butternut squash should be harvested before the first hard frost of the fall season. It should ideally be kept on the vine until it fully matures and develops a thick skin.

The plant is ready for harvesting when the squash is a dull, deep tan color and the rind feels hard. One way to determine if butternut squash is ready for harvesting is by pressing a thumbnail into the skin of the squash; if the squash is difficult to dent with a fingernail, it is generally ready for harvesting.