How many to a wigwam?

[eirish]

I'm planning on growing my cucumbers, runner and French beans, and winter squash on homemade wigwams. My research indicates that cucumbers can go in at one plant per cane and beans at 1-2 per cane. What I haven't figured out yet is how many squash I can grow per cane/wigwam. I've got Crown Prince and Tuffy Sweet (an acorn type).

Any opinions? Also happy to take dissenting opinions on the cucumbers and beans!

I haven't built the wigwams yet so am flexible on size/number of canes.

[Thelma Sanders]

If you're doing a 4 pole wigwam like Monty Don I think he only grows one squash per wigwam.

[rustylady]

I prefer to let my squash ramble. They provide shade for the roots of other plants and crowd out weeds.

[Gemmalaveen]

I am planning to let my squash ramble below and around my bean wigwam.

Last year I had a very small garden so tried to fit in as much as I could, planting two runner beans per cane... the wigwam nearly collapsed from the weight of it all (I had to prop it up with strings attached to fence etc) and they drank so much water! We also had far too many runner beans - everyone sick of them by the end of summer.

This year I have learnt my lesson and will be planting one per cane. I might make a second sowing in mid-summer if necessary.

[Florence Fennel]

One per cane for me too this year. I did two per cane last year and got no beans, though I'm not entirely sure that was the reason, the weather had a lot to do with it, but hedging my bets and going back to one for sure. No luck with squash in buckets last year either, so back into the ground and let them ramble around to their hearts content.

[Florence Fennel]

Just thought, some squash are going in the ground, but I'm trying some in the grow beds I've ordered from Unwins. It'll be an interesting year.

[eirish]

Mmm, sounds like one bean per pole is a good plan! I was leaning toward that anyway. We've been scavenging downed branches from the woods around us and they're mostly 2-3 cm diameter, so hopefully fairly stout. I'm also planning to weave them together like this:
Allotment Forestry WIGWAM PLANT SUPPORTS

I have quite a small garden (maybe 20-25 sq m) so I don't think there will be room for squash to ramble - and I've been suckered in by the pictures of squash growing up wigwams in Sarah Raven's garden. One or two might be able to roam along the fence, though. And there's that spot down by the drive...

[Two_Sheds]

I've got Crown Prince

CP is VERY big & heavy: I wouldn't attempt to grow it up anything, myself. OK for a smaller squash (my Bonbon tried to climb up and over my brassica netting, but collapsed it)

[eirish]

Harumph, I'd had the impression (dunno why!) that Crown Prince was just on the edge of doable for growing vertically. Having read a bit more, it does sound like a daft idea! Will have to think a bit more about whether I can find space for one.

Maybe I'll try some Blue Kuri instead - I really fancy a blue squash!

Any more thoughts on squash and wigwams? If I build a nice sturdy 6-8 pole structure with horizontal weaving in a few places, could I get away with two squash? Or is that doomed to failure?

- the slightly squash-obsessed Elynor