[little sweetpeas]

I thought I'd lost the whole lot but 4 out of 10 have managed to survive.

Has any anyone grown this before?

They are meant to be heavy croppers so I'm not sure if I need to sow anymore.

Any advice welcome

[Aidy]

I only tried growing butternut sqaush once, never again, yes I got a good crop but what I found was they took over 1/2 the plot, I later read to grown up cages similar to beans.

[WG.]

Haven't tried them but was thinking the same as what Aidy wrote.  They'd be a good thing for breaking in that 2nd plot.   Dig out a pocket, fill with manure & let them wander (over a polythene mulch if needs be).   Allow at least 6ft each way between pockets.

[little sweetpeas]

I only tried growing butternut sqaush once, never again, yes I got a good crop but what I found was they took over 1/2 the plot, I later read to grown up cages similar to beans.

So I could use cane wigwams?

[milkman]

I grow them every year and this year is no exception - they used to be called Cobnut as far as I can work out and are a butternut squash specially bred for UK growing conditions - you get a fair crop of absolutely delish squashes, so well worth growing IMHO.  Flesh is a lovely firm orange and has a delicate hint of melon smell about it.  

Not sure of the size of your family, on my impoverished soil I aim to get 2 or 3 harvestable squashes per plant, so 4 plants would give you about 12?

Only downside is that I've found they don't keep as well as e.g. pumpkins, so I would aim to use them up before Christmas.

[little sweetpeas]

Haven't tried them but was thinking the same as what Aidy wrote.  They'd be a good thing for breaking in that 2nd plot.   Dig out a pocket, fill with manure & let them wander (over a polythene mulch if needs be).   Allow at least 6ft each way between pockets.

Great minds think alike

Actually when I was offered the 2nd plot I did think I could just cover the area with squashes and pumkins. On my current plot the space I was thinking of is approx 9 feet by 25 feet.

[Aidy]

If the size of the plants I grew are constant, then you will need blooming big wigwams, scuse the french! These do go mad, think fruit cage proportions.

[little sweetpeas]

Not sure of the size of your family, on my impoverished soil I aim to get 2 or 3 harvestable squashes per plant, so 4 plants would give you about 12?

Only downside is that I've found they don't keep as well as e.g. pumpkins, so I would aim to use them up before Christmas.

I have three young children and OH is an athlete so he eats for two. I was hoping to store them for a few months as it's suggested squashes can keep for up to six months.

[little sweetpeas]

If the size of the plants I grew are constant, then you will need blooming big wigwams, scuse the french! These do go mad, think fruit cage proportions.

Oh flip maybe WG is right I'll need the other plot just for the squashes. Guess I'll stop at four plants.

[shaun]

you can grow them up a support,it needs to be strong and you have to net the fruits like you would a melon.
ive come up with a design for these in mind for some beans but it will do for squashes and the like ,
i will knock one up this evening and a pic will follow.

[WG.]

Oh flip maybe WG is right

Naw ... not possible

[shaun]

here is the outdoor thingy (obelisk),its made from roofing batterns the middle bit of timber is pushed into the ground until the 4 outside ones touch the soil.this one is for beans but you can grow squashes up it.
i'm sure munty made something similar out of pallet boards but i cant find it.

[sootypaws]

looks impressive do you think I will be able to build one of these?
I'm going to try! Done squash for first time this year. Not had a lot of luck with pumkins.
Ann
     

[shaun]

ofcourse you can build one ann,all you need is a cordless screw driver,a saw,a few screws and 5 roofing batterns,the batterns come in packs of 10 from travis perkins or somewhere like that.

[little sweetpeas]

here is the outdoor thingy (obelisk),its made from roofing batterns the middle bit of timber is pushed into the ground until the 4 outside ones touch the soil.this one is for beans but you can grow squashes up it.
i'm sure munty made something similar out of pallet boards but i cant find it.

Oh thanks Shaun,

Will have a go at making one or two or three or four. Not sure it will turn out like yours but I'll post a picture of the finished support.

I've got pallets on th eplot so may try and use those.