Butternut squash - mad idea?

[BarleySugar]

I really don't have space to grow these, but I was wondering what you think of this idea?
At the back of my 8x6 greenhouse I have a darlek compost bin that is full and currently rotting down. If I top it up with old potting compost enriched with some chicken manure pellets, then plant some squash in there, and put netting over the roof of the greenhouse, do you think I will be able to persuade the squash to scramble over it? I would think the leaves would shade the greenhouse, but I don't intend to put in so many that it is completely covered. I wouldn't need to harvest regularly, so at the end of the season I could pull off the netting, complete (hopefully) with ripe squash. They would get plenty of sun, but the roots would be shaded and moist.

Any potential, or completely mad? I do need to maximise my growing space

[SarzWix]

Pumpkins are supposed to like being planted in a compost heap, so it's got to be worth a try?!
I'm thinking of putting a cold frame over my butternuts this year, I've never had much joy with them before and this will be the last ditch attempt!

[BarleySugar]

I've never had the space to give them a go, and I saved some seeds from our last one, so it won't cost me. If it works I might invest in some 'proper' seeds next year
I have heard it can be a bit hit and miss getting a crop, depending on the weather.

[selfraising]

Hi BarleySugar
I have ordered some butternut squash 'cutie' which supposedly only spreads to 90cm, maybe this might be an option for you?

[RedThorn]

Don't see why not. You've got nothing to lose!

[Peter]

I've had worse idease.

You are on the right lines with a rich soil, BUT, you need to consider watering it.

[BarleySugar]

Watering won't be a problem Peter, the water butt is right nearby, and adding water to the 'dalek' should be easy enough. I would think with the volume of soil, it would keep reasonably moist as well. At least no one has shot me down in flames yet

[SarzWix]

The only downside I can think of, is, if the compost hasn't rotted down yet in the dalek, then it will do over the summer and the level might shrink taking the squash plant down with it? But by then the plant should be big enough to get plenty of light.

[Alice]

It sounds like a great plan to me BarleySugar. I would go for it.

[rogesse]

Why not - sounds like a plan! Bear in mind they can get very long and leafy unless you go for the mini variety which might not fit with your idea.

[Eyren]

Sounds like it's worth a try, BarleySugar - the worst that happens is we get another gloomy summer (gods forbid!) and you add a few squash leaves to the compost heap...

[TonyF]

Barley Sugar, I wouldn't do it actually, even with a net on, the reflected heat from the green house would, I think, damage the squashes.

And if you get a good crop, do you want that sort of weight leaning on your greenhouse roof?

[Two_Sheds]

I planted my butternuts in the compost heap in 2006 and 07 (and some in normal soil).

Problem 1) the compost heap continues to rot down, and sink - indeed, taking the plant down with it !

Problem 2) the plants on the heap produced loads of leaf and loads of little tiny fruits, while the ones in the ground were superb - less leaf, more fruit. I guess the heap was very nitrogen rich.

In 08 I grew a pumpkin on the old compost heap (no longer rotting, but with plenty of organic matter in it). I got a big pumpkin, just nice, but no better than the others planted in the normal ground.

[BarleySugar]

problem is, I haven't got any normal gound, so that isn't an option

[Two_Sheds]

problem is, I haven't got any normal gound, so that isn't an option

have a go in a container then