Can they ?
Duke
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.
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.
Quote from: OllieC on July 24, 2008, 12:44:40
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?
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.. :-\
Yes, I remember they did that too saddad. IIRC it was in the RHS magazine...
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
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!
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.
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
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
wow :o i would love to see a photo of your squash growing Jeannine.
Duke
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