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The Show => Pumpkin 'tastic => Topic started by: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 09:09:09

Title: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 09:09:09: I have some saved seed from a Butternut squash that I bought in our local green grocers.
If I manage to get them to grow, how much room can I expect the plant to need?
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: elvis2003 on March 09, 2010, 09:12:49: i trailed ours up a support and along the greenhouse roof on rope,i had 4 plants in a 8x6 greenie. plus a few peppers chillis and a watermelon.i did have to hack the plants back every 4 weeks or so just to get in there!
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: nilly71 on March 09, 2010, 09:14:56: It depends on how you grow them.
I grew some upwards with the runnerbeans and one along the edges of the raised beds used for the squash's.

I made the mistake of knocking one of the ones growing upwards and the stalk broke, so it only grew to a small ball size(about the size of a softball). The one i had in the raised bed was trained/trimmed to grow along the edge so only took up about 12" wide by 5' long.

Neil
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: BarriedaleNick on March 09, 2010, 09:16:03: Depends as you have the choice to trail on the ground or up and over something. With a bit of thought you can minimise the space by climbing them over compost bins or sheds. I try to save space by planting in with toms or sweetcorn and trailing around on the ground to cover bare earth - acts as a good weed cover as well.
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on March 09, 2010, 09:22:25: I put my squashes in on an expectation that they will take a square metre each (about 10 square feet)..... I did climb a butternut up a propped up pallet last yerar to good effect....

chrisc
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 09:35:38: Would one of the black florist buckets be big enough to support one plant?
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: chriscross1966 on March 09, 2010, 13:08:08: Quote from: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 09:35:38
Would one of the black florist buckets be big enough to support one plant?

Not really unless it was one of the mini-fruited varieties (don't think there is a small butternut, it'd have to be festival, jack be little, baby boo etc) .... problem will be getting enough feed and water to what is basically a hungry thirsty plant.....
you could use this technique perhaps.... http://www.globalbuckets.org/ (http://www.globalbuckets.org/)

chrisc
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: Squash64 on March 09, 2010, 13:57:04: Quote from: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 09:09:09
I have some saved seed from a Butternut squash that I bought in our local green grocers.
If I manage to get them to grow, how much room can I expect the plant to need?

Remember that butternuts grown from saved seed don't always turn out the same as the ones they are saved from. I use bought seed so I know what to expect, but if you don't mind taking pot luck, then good luck!
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: Mortality on March 09, 2010, 14:43:53: Thanks chriscross, I have room in a raised bed still and might be able to use a boarder as well.

Squash64, yes thats partly why i'm going to try and grow them, something totally unexpected could be produced and if it's tasty then all the better ;D
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: Jeannine on March 09, 2010, 21:51:48: You might find that you don't need as much space as you think. There are bush butternuts now that don't ramble all over, they grow more like a zuchinni plant. Commercial growers often use them to get more crops in, so don't be surprised if they don't vine. XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Butternut Squash growing room ?
Post by: grannyjanny on April 14, 2010, 20:45:09: Jeannine do you know which are the bush ones please. Silly question ;). Hope you have/had a lovely anniversary.