I'm going to grow some 'Harrier' butternut squash this year and this is the first time I have grown any type of squash. My current plan is to plant them in a raised bed next to my 6ft high garage, train them up the side and onto the roof. My reasoning being that the roof gets lovely and warm most of the year. Just a couple of questions:
1. Having not grown squash before I wondered whether the plants will be long enough to make it onto the roof 5 - 6ft?
2. The warm roof will keep the greenery and any fruits warm but is that useful - would it be more beneficial to keep the roots warm somehow?
Thanks for the advice!
As long as the roof is not too exposed to wind (as the plants would not appreciate cold draughts) thye could do well - might try it myself - it might be tricky securing them to the roof.
isn't Harrier squash a Bush Variety?
Ah, yes, you are right. I've checked and it is described as 'bushy'. Oh, well - that's that plan out of the window then... :-\
So, given my idea, does anyone have any good ideas for a more suitable type of squash?
no it's a good plan. Choose one of the trailing butternuts. They're not my squash of choice so I can't recommend one. Or try one of the small fruited ones like Sweet Dumpling, which is quite rampant. You will need some support, especially if they fruit near the base, and the vines themselves have a lot of weight
I couldn't grow squash at home any other way but up, because of slugs (actually I don't grow them at home anymore)
I grew squash on both my aviary and dhg kennel roofs last season, worked well. One bvariety was Uchi Kuri, sorry can't remember the other.I put one up there as running out of room...wasn't a planned thing :)
Last season my Sharkfin squash ended up on the roof of my shed and along the fence of the allotment where they out competed the bindweed. They were still growing when the snow arrived in december at which point they were stretching tendrils out over the alleyway between my allotment and garden, towards my garden shed. This year I might train them over the gap on purpose and see if I can harvest squash in my own back garden that are rooted on my allotment.
Most winter squash or pumpkins will grow 30 feet if allowed to.XX Jeannine