Three Sisters

[Kristen]

I'm sceptical that three-sisters works in the UK.

Our corn varieties are not very tall (to get them to mature in our shorter Summers), so aren't a tall enough climbing frame for beans.

I think growing Squash near a block of Sweetcorn may well be a good idea (e.g. if the shape of the plot makes that easy / suitable) as they will probably "sprawl there" towards the end of Sweetcorn's growing cycle.

[frantic furball]

I always grow a block of sweetcorn surrounded by squash/courgette and it's worked well for me so far but I don't think I could manage the beans too.

[binley100]

I grew BNS under my sweetcorn this year, just had to watch where you put your feet when picking the corn. I have noticed tho' that in the farmers fields sweetcorn is planted a lot closer together than we get told to.........

[Two_Sheds]

in the farmers fields sweetcorn is planted a lot closer together than we get told to.........

True, but they drench them in water, feed and chemically things

Still got (if I remember correctly!) one decent cob and a second small one off each plant.

Well that's not bad at all. I rarely get 2 cobs off one plant

[Kristen]

I have noticed tho' that in the farmers fields sweetcorn is planted a lot closer together than we get told to.........

They may be growing them for "silage" rather than Cobs?

[northmaid]

One of my best sweetcorn yields was achieved when I planted in a block but only about 10" apart (I was trying to fill a space using plants I had spare) They didn't get any different treatment from the 'correctly' spaced plants and definitely no chemicals and I found there was less keeling over from wind even though both spaces were equally exposed. There was no difference in the cob size and I got at least two from each plant. Am going to try it again this year to make sure it wasn't just a fluke. Mind you, my plot is good for sweetcorn wherever I put them.

[Kristen]

Do you remember what the variety was Northmaid? I get pretty much only one-cob per plant from the Swift I grow.