Which Squash for small patch

[lumpyjumper]

Hello, me again!

I've planted my potatoes, I've pruned and repotted my gooseberry's and the rhubarb is coming along nicely...

What I'd like to do is plant a squash, but I don't know what type to plant. I have a smallish area in a bed next to where I'm going to plant tomatoes, red cabbage and radishes. I wondered what suggestions you grapes might have with regard to the type I should try at my first attempt?

I looked at the local garden centre for some seeds but they only did pumpkin (too big) and an F1 butternut squash.

[Flummery]

I grow pumpkin Baby Bear - it's lovely - just about a double handful when fully grown.

[veg4681]

What I'd like to do is plant a squash, but I don't know what type to plant. I have a smallish area in a bed next to where I'm going to plant tomatoes, red cabbage and radishes. I wondered what suggestions you grapes might have with regard to the type I should try at my first attempt?

I looked at the local garden centre for some seeds but they only did pumpkin (too big) and an F1 butternut squash.

When you say limited bed space, were you referring to growing space required for a given squash variety or the size of squash fruits...not that it matters much.

Honestly I don't know if a small fruited squash would have less sprawling habit than a bigger fruited one but the fruit size can vary greatly. I myself will not bother with large fruits (or most pumpkins on personal taste). I know Sweet Dumpling are smallish as are Thelma Sanders sweet potato which is an acorn type squash that I got from Real Seeds. I also got Butternut Ponca from Alan Romans as they're supposed to be relatively small. Most indication of fruit size are given in weight/kg in most online seed catalogues. Some Grapes (Momol) have grown Red Kuri, they don't look very big so might make a nice contender. BTW squashes are categorised as types of butternut, hubbard, buttercup, delicata, acorn etc but size will vary even within each category.

Oh there's a small size pumpkin called 'Jack be Little'.

[smallblueplanet]

As veg says small fruited doesn't mean small plant as well. Do you want to grow a 'winter' squash such as pumpkin or butternut, or summer squash like courgette or patty pans?

Either way you can find plants that you can grow upwards or with more 'bush-like' growing habits. I like growing patty pans cos you can pick em small, couple of inches, (use like courgettes) or leave them to grow about 6" (will store for a few months, peel and use like 'winter' squashes) - however some folk hate 'em!

[si'sraisedbed]

I am trying a climbing courgette. It is supposed to climb up a trellis or similar and can be grown in a large pot or a small area of ground. I tried it last year with no success but then I didn't really look after it very well.... It is called Courgette Black Forest (I think) It's not cheap though. I got 4 seeds in the packet last year and it cost £2.99.

[lumpyjumper]

Thanks for the ideas,I think a summer squash would be good but maybe the winter will be better as the ground will be clearer due to having harvested the surrounding crops?

I like the idea of one that grows upwards as ground space could be a bit of an issue...The patty pans I like the look of and they look as if when you pick them small they can be roasted along with the other veg successfully?

One of my gardening books suggested that squash can be supported on frames??

Thanks again for the ideas, I'll go and look a few of those up on the internet to get a view on size of plant etc

[Cutecumber]

Summer squash tend to be bushy and less vigorous, but their use is more akin to a courgette. If you are after a storing type - which a pumpkin or butternut would be - then go for a winter squash.

Whatever the type of winter squash, their trailing nature can be stopped or controlled. It's not too difficult to make the plant grow in a spiral - make some u-shaped "pins" to hold the plant in place. Where it touches the ground it will often produce extra roots which is a bonus.

Once a few fruits have set, take off all the growing tips. You will have to keep doing this as they are determined to expand! This will also help encourage the plant to put all its efforts into growing the fruit.

I have managed to control the growth of a butternut and a Crown Prince by doing this, but still got a few fruits off each.

[momol]

I tend to look for compact vine squashes with small fruit (for 2 person) due to the size of our back garden. I grow Red Kuri, it is not rampant but it does need up to around 1 square meter per vine but you can train it to a fence or ony place too climb up.

Try some bush type winter squashes (not really bush, but compact growth) such as : sweet mama (F1, Kabocha type), Ponca Baby Butternut, Bush Buttercup,Chestnut,etc.
They all has fruit around 1.5 to 2 kg/fruit

As for summer squashes, like CC said, most of them are bush but if you would like to grow the vine type, try: Odessa, Lemon squash, etc. These 2 mentioned are heirloom type.

[lumpyjumper]

Thanks all,

Another idea I've just thought of was planting it under my runner beans and peas, as they grow up and the squash would be ground cover? Would that work?

The pea and bean bed are full of organic matter and I've been enriching the soil with compost etc since January. Nothing is planted yet but the seedlings are all doing nicely in the porch.

[Cutecumber]

The theory is sound, but you need good soil and enough sun.

Try and and keep your fingers' crossed, it may be a happy ending.

[Sue]

Lumpy Jumper
I tried the under the runner beans method with a left over squash plant. All was well until the rb's got really vigorous and then the squash sort of disappeared. It then reappeared again with strong regrowth, but it was too late, the fruits too small to harvest in time, so the dense shade could be a problem.
Sue

[lumpyjumper]

Ok I'll rethink the plan, maybe if I plant the main plant in full sun next to the beans and peas rather than under them, then the sprawling growth will be fine and the main plant will still be in full sun.

I'm keen to try...it has two chances