three sisters companion planting

[els]

Going to try the three sisters mmethod for space saving growing this year (I only have a half plot). Has anyone tried this and/or have any tips about when to sow/plant each of the plants. I'm guessing the corn has to be sort of established before you can grow beans up the stalks.

[Bigmallly]

Check this out els. It's all about using the three sisters method.

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[Alison]

I've tried various levels of it and don't find that the beans work very well with the corn (must be better for different varities) as they always seem to be swamped by the squash. This year am going to skip the beans totally (yes, I know that will miss out on the nitrogen element) and just let my patti pans wind around the base of the sweetcorn so fingers crossed.

[Creemteez]

I just did two sisters last year (corn and squash.) They both did well. The squash grew at a phenominal rate, shading out weeds and acting as a living mulch to prevent the soil from drying out.
I think the bed would have been a bit over whelmed if I'd tried beans as well.
The bed was a 4'x10' containing 18 corn and two butternut squash.
Good luck.

[RedThorn]

If you do want to try this, the corn needs to be about 2ft before planting the beans,once the beans are about a foot, then plant on the squash. The biggest challenge is to get all growing in time to ripen. Two sister's works easily with squash and corn. Also remember as the corn needs to be planted in blocks(for wind pollination), bearing this in mind, the beans you want to plant should preferably be shelly beans(one's you want to dry out)

Never give up and all the best.

[Pies]

I was thinking about doing this but i dont think it will work for a couple of reasons

1. The climate,the beans will grow far quicker than the corn

2. How will you get to bean plants that have decided to switch to a different corn to climb,rembering corn is in a block.

Instead i will grow beans and squash in the same bed and corn and squash in the same bed,hopefully that will work

[piskieinboots]

don't ya just love the diversity of gardening - so many people, so many ideas not enough time to try them all

[HeyWayne]

I tried two sisters (insert pun here) last year. Grew a Chicago Warted Hubbard amongst my Sweetcorn. Worked well enough, and was kinda weed free.

[rustylady]

Tried it last year, sort of modified. Put cane tripods up for the beans, which did really well, as did the squash. Sweetcorn was iffy - probly not enough plants to pollinate properly.

[Flummery]

The originators of the Three Sisters method were the Native Americans. They let their corn and their beans dry rather than picking them fresh as we would. You really need a long season to get the corn well on the way before the beans start to climb. I've tried it and I honestly don't think it's do-able here - especially if you aren't growing for maize flour!

[Comfreyfan]

I've done it for the past couple of years, I never remembered to start the corn first, so the beans needed a cane until the corn overtook them, then it got a bit like a jungle with the beans growing between the corn plants and you can't walk easily among the squash plants, but I had good bean and corn crops - rubbish squash, but I think I made a poor variety choice. This year I'm going for just squash and corn together, the beans are getting their own row!

[sweetiepea]

Good question els. I've never heard of the three sisters before. Might give the two sisters a go this year (corn and beans) as I usually grow them seperately.

I'm constantly amazed by what there is to be learnt. Thank goodness for the vine!

[SMT]

I sort of stumbled across the 3 sisters. I mentioned on another thread that I accidently found out pumpkin vines grow perfectly fine through a block of corn plants. I didnt know about the beans until someone on here mentioned it to me. Although, I dont think I woould try it out to be honest from the previous replies.

[Lovage]

Theres a lot written about this and the idea sounds great but I've never come across anyone who has made it work here.
As many have written here corn and squash can work quite well so I would just go with that. It worked well for me last year but I did space the sweetcorn out more than usual

[binley100]

I am planning on growing corn and bns together this year. It'll be good to compare notes on how it's all gone.