Both of these types are pretty tough cookies. Usually do well when C. pepos and C. maximas fail. Deep watering once a week should be sufficient and decrease your chances of PM.

Butternuts are ready when they attain their characteristic tan color.

Cushaws come in many colors. It is possible that you have the Gold Striped cushaw.

If the vines are dead you have nothing to lose by picking them.

I think, more to the point, you have nothing to gain by not picking them. If the vines are dead, they're done. Of course, winter squash can be picked and eaten well before maturity, just like summer squash, but the sugar content will be lower than if they were fully ripe. They also won't last as long, after harvest, as mature squash would.

Watering needs will strongly depend on temperature. Around here, with 100+ temps, I have to water twice a week if I'm laying down half an inch at a time. Once a day, and you'll be risking root rot.

ah all. ...... these are WIRE landscape fabric lined raised BEDS beds between 2 and 3 ft tall with lots of leaves and sticks to fill in on bottom so its not lots of soil.

Heck with this dry wind etc they could use twice day watering. some of my other stuff in large pots under netting too......Every other nite is not enough it took me over 5 hrs yesterday nite. its exhausting. and I use lots of gallon jugs 2 gall jugs and larger to fill up. I took a large pin and made hole at bottom of each jug.... and it get stopped up too. I really need more jugs. for the 2 and 3 tall foot Wide tall tall raised beds.

DID I pick the first 10 pounder too soon? when using a peeler the thin layer of skin exposed th green ring prob 1-16 wide. Does that mean I pick it too early???