Pumpkins and courgettes

[RobinOfTheHood]

I'm sure I read a few weeks ago about planting them on a mound of sh1t manure and compost and under plastic, but I can't find it now... :(

Anyone care to remind me?  :)

Oh, and spacing again...........All Green Bush and Jack O' Lantern.


Jeannine?  You there?   ;D ;D

[RobinOfTheHood]

[saddad]

Thinks she's turned in early! I'd give courgettes at least 2' square Pumpkins 4' sq
;D

[caroline7758]

I've planted my courgettes through black plastic for the last two years, without any extra manure and compost (just lazy as the plot was already covered in plastic) , and they've done great.

[Jeannine]

Robin this was Manicscousers post I believe,she used it on rough ground. I won't answer it in case I get it wrong but pretty sure it was hers.

Spacing is always a difficult question to answer.

The correct answer to your question is 12 feet in all directions for large squash and pumpkins and 6 feet for smaller ones and bush ones.

I realise that this is not always possible but they need good space to get the best from the plant. I  have to plant  4 across my plot which is 22 feet and then I give them the same the other way, this is not ideal but I don't have a field sadly.

People do plant with less space but the plants will be competing for nutrients and light as the plants will quickly form a dense jungle.

Anyway, you have to decide but the correct spacing is as I have said above, and you can see I use less.

I like to plant over black plastic personally but this year I have not found a full roll that is a reasonable cost.If you do, put the plastic down as much before as you can, it will raise the soil temperature. I make a hole about 30 inches across and plant in that.

Hope this helps.

PM Manics for the  rough ground info, it was an excellent idea.

XX Jeannine



When your viners start to grow, you train them the way you want them to go,you can direct them along the edges of paths etc,

Your bush ones can get away with less,but I would still give three feet if you can.

[manicscousers]

hiya, this is how we did it, to clear ground full of loads of weeds..including the dreaded marestail
cover the ground with thick cardboard, pile lots of muck on top, your choice of type, ours was horse, about 2 or 3 years old, i think..cover with black plastic, cut a cross in it, turn back the edges of the cross, pile up soil and plant the squash/ courgette on a hump..we put a cut off plastic drinks bottle in to water it..when everything's dead in winter, the plastic's taken off and the card has rotted and , for us, the weeds had enriched the ground  ;D
p.s, we do 4' spacing, all round, this year we have 2 squash on a 4'x4' compost heap, because of the depth, i hope they'll have enough room