Growing Courgettes on the compost heap

[Georgie]

Flicking through one of my gardening books this evening I was reminded that curcubits can be grown on the compost heap.  Has anyone tried this and if so with what results?  I am wondering if the plants would get sufficient nutrients and water and, assuming the plants thrive, what effect they have on the compost.

G x

[Georgie]

[hippydave]

this year i grew all my courgettes squashes and pumpkins on the heap and had a mega bumper crop of all, much better than the 1s that grew in just enriched soil, all the plants were planted right round the bottom of the heap and not on top of the heap itself.

[ceres]

I've grown butternut squashes on my 'evil' heaps - the couch grass and perennial weed heaps that I leave for several years.  They're covered with plastic or tarp and I plant through holes.  The squashes do rermarkably well.  The heaps seem to hold onto moisture so I generally just give a feed once a week after the fruits set.  Don't know what effect it has on the compost as I haven't used it yet!  Growing cucurbits on compost heaps is very common on our site, pretty much everyone does it.  I like it because it makes use of otherwise unused space and saves a lot of more useful space on the ground for other crops.  

[hellohelenhere]

'Evil heaps' - I like it!

[Georgie]

Thanks HippyDave, but I don't have room around the bin to try your idea.

As Ceres has guessed, for me this is about making better use of space.  I only have one of the black plastic bins so it's not a traditional hot heap.  Does this matter?

G x

[PurpleHeather]

Not only that but this year, before we knew it had that herbicide residue in it we piled a new bed high with manure.

We had a lot of extra pumpkin and squash plants left we would normally have offered on or composted, we planted them on it.

It produced a wonderful crop and not one weed.

[Tee Gee]

Have always used this method and the bonus is; you don't have to clear away at the end of the season....just leave the tops to rot away where they are!!

[Georgie]

This is encouraging, thanks everyone.   :)

G x

[Bean_Queen]

I grew Butternuts in 2004 - half on the compost heap, half just as normal in the ground.  Surprisingly, the ones on the ground did much better... not as many fruits, but they were whoppers.
The ones in the heap produced loads of leaf and tons of baby fruit ... I reckon too much nitrogen, not enough potash.

[calendula]

always done this, apart from space saving being up and off the ground they seem to get off to a better start away from the slugs and snails