Can any melon or squash climb?

[Miichael]

I've run out of space. I've been slowly reclaiming my allotment - a half size/125 metre square - from the patch of brambles and docks I inherited, and am about 2/3rds done. I've stopped expanding for now as I have only a little time each week I can spare for it, there are more fun things to be doing to it at this time of year! (I'd spend longer but I've two young children, and whilst they love the plot at 1 & 2 are a little too young to manage properly whilst getting much more than watering or weeding done!).

Anyway, the context is slightly irrelevant to the question. I have a couple Waltham Butternut Squash to plant out and a couple Minnesota Midget melons, and wondered if they could be made to climb so I can free up some space? I've read conflicting reports about butternut squash and melons online, but nothing mentioning either specific type one way or the other. I'd be very pleased to hear of your experience or opinions.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Yes you can make both of those climb, just make sure it is a very sturdy support for your squash.

Note: Not all squash will climb, you occasionally very occasionally get bush and half climbers.

[Miichael]

Thank you, Norfolkgrey. So is there no way of telling if a squash will definitely climb or not until it is quite well on the way? How strange!

[Guest]

You should know by the variety. The only squash that comes to mind as bush is kakai. (When you say squash I am taking it as winter squash)

[Jay-ell]

As far as I know Waltham Butternut is a vine and should be able to climb/be trained. You may have to tie in the vines offasionally to train it where you want it, I'd use something that isn’t going to bind and girdle the vine such as the velcro plant ties.

Not sure about the melons - are they going to ripen outdoors in the UK?

[Jimmy]

You reminded me I need some courgette seeds so just ordered of eBay
Courgette Climbing Shooting Star
Jimmy

[GBax]

You should know by the variety. The only squash that comes to mind as bush is kakai. (When you say squash I am taking it as winter squash)

Honey Bear F1 is also a bush variety

[Zelenina]

I think you can assume that courgettes and summer squash are bush types that won't climb, unless the description or name says otherwise. For example, the name Courgette Climbing Shooting Star (which Jimmy bought) should give you a bit of a clue

With winter squash it's the other way round. Most of them are trailing or vining types that can be persuaded to climb. But there is a growing number of bush or semi-bush types, especially amongst newer varieties and F1 hybrids.

Melons are also mostly trailing/vining/climbing but there are some newer bush varieties.

It's not always clear which type they are from the descriptions in catalogues or on packets. So the safest thing is to check by goggling the name of any variety you're interested in, and check more than one source of information. Or ask people here if they know.

Yes Waltham Butternut should climb OK. Minnesota Midget is described as having "Compact, 3-4-foot vines" so I should think you could train it upwards but it won't climb very high.

Some winter squashes that I know are bush or semi-bush are Ambar, Amazonka, Cornell's Bush Delicata, Butternut Ponca, and Butterfly F1 which we were talking about on another thread recently.

[veggiechicken]

I've grown butternuts and Minnesota midgets up canes. Like so many "climbing" things they need persuasion, training and tying in