Squash, why so far apart?

I really wanted to plant squash this year, (different varietys all together) reason being I thought I might cunningly evade the leafminers. If they strike they'll hopefuly attack the leaf not the fruit so I should at least end up with something.

But I have a tiny plot and they need tons of room. I know they have a crazy growth habit, is this the only reason why you need to plant so far apart? If I built a wooden frame to train them over could I plant them closer together?

My veg patch is 2 meters wide and 2 and half long, but missing a corner (like so)

 

Last year I grew 3 plants up sheep fence wire. I used two sections of wire about 2m long and spaced about 20cm apart. This year I'll use the same arrangement, but I'm only going to plant 2 squash as I think with 3 the foliage was a bit dense. I've also grown squash in a circle of fence wire and it worked well.
Looking at your photo I'd suggest trying a frame about 15cm from the wall.

I don't know if you've grown squash before, but they grow like triffids and 3 plants growing on the ground in a plot the size of yours would take over just about all the available space.

 

Thanks for the advice Dave. Wow 20cm apart seems really close together, did you get much squash?

I don't care about the greenery taking over, only that if I plant them too close I wont get any squash. I am going to will them up. In fact if the greenery takes over I think this might be a bit of a much needed gardening ego boost that I've actually grown something green other than a weed. :dh:

I tried growing butternut squash (F1 Avalon) last year, but it was a complete flop. I tried in massive bucket pots after starting them off in cells indoors adn I think that they needed to be grown in bigger pots tp begin with. I really didn't look after them. Didn't water them. They grew little numbs which I think would have been flowers but they never flowered or the flowers dropped off. I want to invest lots of energy into this this year.

I was going to build a pyramid like this one, but yeah maybe it would make more sense what you're suggesting because I guess the light will only get to one side, unless I build it so the /\ is facing the wall and plant down just one side.



Are there any types that are harder to grow than others, I really wanted to try pattipan because we love it. Is it easy? Does anyone know any with a more compact grow habit?

If I do three plants will the have enough room, not in terms of the leaves they put out but in terms of competeing with each other? could I have three different types? say, butternut, pattipan and carnival?

Will there be enough nutrition in the soil to feed runner beans too? Maybe, six plants?

 

The two runs of wire netting were about 20cm apart and the squash grew up between and beyond them. In fact when we went away for a three week holiday some of the squash tendrils had managed to attach themselves to a row of peas growing next to them!

As far as varieties go I can't really comment. This year I'm sticking to butternut F1 as they grow quite big and keep very well. The only other squash (apart from pumpkins) I've tried was Sweet Dumpling last year. It was more attractive looking but much smaller and didn't crop as well.
I think you may be a bit ambitious regarding the number of squash and beans you want to put into the space, but I suppose if you provide regular liquid feed you may well succeed. It's worth a try!