Topic: Can Pumpkins be grown in the same patch of ground each year ?

[Duke Ellington]

Can they ?

Duke

[Suzanne]

As I grow quite a lot of winter squash and pumpkins I tend to rotate them - can't do a long rotation as that would take quite a bit of ground. So of the six beds on lottie 2 (1.2m x 8m) each year 2 are devoted to squash, and other crops following normal rotation in other years.

I am not sure whether this is necessary or not, but happier that pests/disease may be deterred if the crop moves arund. In terms of nutrients you have to put that much manure and feed down each year i don't think they would ever run out even if they were grown in the same place.

[OllieC]

I read an article about a pumpkin farm in Norfolk - they grow tonnes of squash, and always on the same ground... I remember being a bit surprised but it works for them.

[Fork]

I read an article about a pumpkin farm in Norfolk - they grow tonnes of squash, and always on the same ground... I remember being a bit surprised but it works for them.

I wonder if they "sterilize" the ground in some way to enable them to grow the same crop in the same place year after year?

[saddad]

Squash's main pests aren't viable in the UK yet... my only concern would be with general fertility.. a large dose of manure (uncontaminated) should make it possible to keep growing them on the same plot..  :-\

[OllieC]

Yes, I remember they did that too saddad. IIRC it was in the RHS magazine...

[Duke Ellington]

Thanks for your answers!! I have large patch of ground on the allotment that seems perfect for pumpkins and now having seen how much space pumpkins take up I reckon I would just about be able to fit one plant into a 10x4 bed raised bed and I am not sure I want use a raised bed for just one pumpkin. So I was hoping it would be okay to keep growing in the same area.

Duke

[antipodes]

Duke (or should that be duchess?) pumkins are good in areas where they can run a bit wild (hence why I am growing them in a 3 sisters bed so they just run over the feet of the beans and corn and the flowerbeds next to them. A variety that makes rather long vines can be good running along a path edge or in a tricky spot. They are not to bothered about being in a highly cultivated spot as long as there is plenty of food for them. On a mucky pile in a corner of a grassy patch and they are quite happy (if you just want a few eaters in any case). That is based on my observations at least.
Good luck! love growing pumpkins, they are so cute and grow so fast!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I rotate mine, simply because I rotate other crops, and don't always have space for them in the same place! I don't see any reason why they shouldn't thrive in the same place year after year.

[calendula]

I grow mine in the same places which includes the top of the compost bins  ;D I just top up with a big dollop of manure beforehand

[Jeannine]

I have used the same area year after year for 7 years.My pumpkin patch is  a full lottie as I tend to grow a great many varieties and in order to be able to do this I have to have  a large area just for this purpose without raised beds or  any bushes etc hindering me. All my other stuff is  on the second lottie.Apart from being  regularly manured and cuyltivated I do nothing else with it. . I rarely grow anything else on this piece of land.Prior to this lottie when I lived overseas I had the same set up which I used for about 15 years. I have never had any problems associated with not rotating .

 XX Jeannine

[Duke Ellington]

wow :o i would love to see a photo of your squash growing Jeannine.

Duke

[Jeannine]

Duke, I would love you to too but it is pretty wildly known that due to a health difficulty our lotties are under plastic wrap for this year only,so I am mini gardening at home with small raised beds, happy to oblige next season , meantime if I can  help with info etc I will be happy to do that too.

They are very special to me and I feel quite weird this year!!

XX Jeannine