I have often read that pumpkins and potatoes should not be planted near each other, and I've always followed that advice.
As they are not closely related , I suppose common diseases etc are not the problem. Is it simply a question of competition for soil nutrients and/or root-space the soil?
The reason I ask this now is that I have just found (in New Zealand's southern hemisphere spring) tiny bits of potato sprouting in the compost I've been using for planting out butternut pumpkin seedlings. Is it sufficient to remove the sprouting potatoes (to rule out competition) or is there something more "sinister" that may be lurking there that I should be aware of, and which might cause trouble for the pumpkins?
With grateful thanks for any light anyone can shed.
