three sisters companion planting

[carolineholding]

Morning

I'm considering trying this South American technique this year, mainly because I don't know how else I'm going to squeeze in all the squashes I want to grow other wise!

Has any one else tried it? The stuff I've read is mixed.

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, the three sisters are a climbing bean(to feed the other two plants with nitrogen) I'm planning on using french, a squash/pumpkin/courgette (for ground cover, water retention and weed suppression) and a sweet corn plant (for training the bean up).

[zazen999]

Yes but I found it only works with:
Winter squash [unless you pop summer ones at the edges]
Beans for drying
Popcorn rather than sweetcorn.

Mainly due to the issue of picking it all when there are spiky squash plants romping through and up the plants...I believe it is supposed to be for winter crops not summer picking ones; so you plant and just leave it and come back when everything has died back and harvest your winter crops.

If you are pushing for space, try growing some up these sorts of frames. I can get 4 squashes on one of these...growing 3 vertically and one at the bottom.

[Thelma Sanders]

I always manage 2 sisters with smaller growing squashes planted around the outside of the sweetcorn bed. That works quite well, as I can usually reach the corn without trampling over the squash

[phil the shed]

people plant the beans too early the corn needs time to strengthen and develope so late harvest/winter store beans are better.....don't ask me which ones Zazen is the bean Queen

[WendyC]

I grow courgettes under sweetcorn quite successfully, never added beans to the mix though.

[rustylady]

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, the three sisters are a climbing bean(to feed the other two plants with nitrogen) I'm planning on using french, a squash/pumpkin/courgette (for ground cover, water retention and weed suppression) and a sweet corn plant (for training the bean up).

The beans won't supply the other crops with nitrogen, they fix nitrogen in root nodules for their own use.

[zazen999]

And evidence shows that it only works until they form pods, then they use the nitrogen themselves....

[Stonewaller]

If you are pushing for space, try growing some up these sorts of frames. I can get 4 squashes on one of these...growing 3 vertically and one at the bottom.

Questions, questions, questions How is that frame made? I'd like to grow squash (Thelma Sanders) vertically, I wasn't sure whether a bamboo frame like that would be strong enough. Is it just bamboo struts with chicken wire behind the lower bit, or do you have stronger posts out of the shot? Presumably it wouldn't cope in a rather exposed garden without strong supports? And how wide is that for 3 vertically and one on the ground?

[alex-adam]

I grow courgettes under sweetcorn quite successfully, never added beans to the mix though.

I've managed courgettes under climbing beans on a wigwam, but the corn came to nothing - too far north I think.

[zazen999]

Questions, questions, questions How is that frame made? I'd like to grow squash (Thelma Sanders) vertically, I wasn't sure whether a bamboo frame like that would be strong enough. Is it just bamboo struts with chicken wire behind the lower bit, or do you have stronger posts out of the shot? Presumably it wouldn't cope in a rather exposed garden without strong supports? And how wide is that for 3 vertically and one on the ground?

The chicken wire was incidental - it was to keep the compost in not the canes up.

It's just canes in the ground with horizontal canes interwoven. Our plot is very windy and it's fine. Put a vertical cane every meter and the horizontal canes the same and the weave strengthens it.

[taff]

Good plan. I need to use some of my canes for other stuff this year, I won't be growing tomatoes outside again unless I cover them up with something, and I usually end up using some kind fo knackered framing for the squash. We'll also see whether they will actually grow this year......

[Thelma Sanders]

do you have to support the squash - Thelma Sanders fruits can be quite heavy (yes me as well!)

[sammy_roser]

I grew corn with courgettes in between. Although one hid until I cut down the corn and was a massive marrow!

[zazen999]

do you have to support the squash - Thelma Sanders fruits can be quite heavy (yes me as well!)

If they need it - I have little netting hammocks that can be tied to the canes...

[greenjelly]

I tried this about 4 years ago when I had an allotment - I heard about it on a tv programme and got very excited because it's how the American Indians used to grow crops so I thought I was being all earth mother!
Anyway - back to reality - it didin't really work for me - the sweetcorn didnt get very big and the beans were really difficult to get at through all those squash leaves. Also the squash's didnt do that well but that could have been because it was a very hot summer and the water pipes dried up.
I wouldnt bother with this - if you are short of space try growing squashes up a climbing frame, the same as you grow your beans and then you can use more space for your sweetcorn.

Greenjelly