mixing butternet squash with potatoes

[stuartallotment]

Hi
Tring to make use of the space in the allotment could I grow butternet squash in between the potato mounds or would they be fighting against each other for nutrients. Thought as they have large leaves they could act as a good weed cover also protction for potato's. I would appreciate your suggestions or experiences.
Thank you Stuart

[stuartallotment]

[Marymary]

I would have thought that by the time the butternut really got going the potatoes would be filling all the space. 

See what others think.  :)

[triffid]

Squashes are hungry feeders, so I wouldn't put them in a bed where they'd be fighting for soil and air-space. They're going to be in the ground for several months and, as Marymary says, by then the spud leaves will have formed a really thick canopy.

What you can do with spuds is to sow quick-growing catch-crops between the rows when the spuds are still in the early stages of growth. Stuff like salad leaves designed to be cut as baby-leaf salad.
You can pop these in between all kinds of widely spaced slow-growers: things like brussels and cabbages, for example. Or even your squashes!

[sawfish]

The problem might be the mass of leaves and confusion.

Despite what we're told weeds do grow underneath plants in semi darkness and it might get heavy going..

[Larkspur]

Squashes follow early potatoes perfectly well in a rotation plan. If you want to plant them amongst the potatoes whilst they are still occupying the ground I would suggest you put them in(large) containers :) ;)

[Jeannine]

Depending on how wide a space you have between your spud plants  what you could do is plant the squash at the end of the row  with a bit of space for itself  not in between the potatoes, then as the vines grow train them to grow in between the poatoto rows,that way the roots are getting there own space and not competing. I would not do it though unless you are  very generous with your spud row widths, if you tend to crowd the rows your squash will probably smother ypur spuds and the squash would get mildew if too crowded. I woud also not grow the huge squash. XX Jeannine

[bumble-dee]

it may be rather difficult to harvest your tatties without some disturbance to the squash plants!?!, but like jeannine says, you could train the foiliage down the rows. dont forget they need sunlight to ripen!

Dee