Question
My butternut squashes are getting really big, but a few of them are cracking open.  Why?  Is this a problem?  Can I still eat them?  They still look sort of green on the outside, are they ripe enough to cook & eat?

Answer
Melanie, you've probably waited too long to harvest them.  When squash, and many other vegetables, get too large, they do tend to crack.  This is even more prevalent in overly wet conditions.  I harvest my butternut squash when they are still on the small side.  I find this to result in more tenderness and sweeter taste.

As long as the squash is not rotting, you can still harvest the cracked vegetables and cook them.  The green color will not affect the taste.  The reason they probably have not turned completely yellow is the weather.  If you've experienced excessive amounts of rain this summer, the soil was probably depleted of phosphorus, which resulted in the plants taking longer to ripen.

Enjoy the rest of the season.

Regards,

Mike