Companion Planting Corn/beans/peas

I'm planning on trying to grow beans/peas up my corn this year just wondering how many bean/pea plants to a corn ?

 

Hi Daisyboo

I've never heard of anyone doing this before and I think there may be problems.

A sweetcorn stem is strong but the root system is quite limited. I think a sweetcorn plant with beans growing up it would be inclined to topple over when wet and blown about by a strong wind.

I also think peas would struggle to get a grip on a sweetcorn plant. Peas need pea sticks or netting.

Finally, I think peans and beans growing up a sweetcorn plant could interfere with the pollination of the corns. And think of the feeding you would have to do with such a concentration of plants in a small area.

 

It's actually an old native american practise, usually also involving squash, to form the "Three Sisters". There's quite a bit about it on the web, e.g.
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/teach/2003045238014436.html

I haven't tried it out myself, the density of corn is very low so I think you need a fair bit of space - I guess they have that in North America...

Jon.

 

Daisyboo I recommend you put your location in your profile (click "User CP" in the menu at the top)

 

Dunno. I have a feeling that the "three sisters" thing refers back to more old-fashioned much taller sweetcorn, and longer growing seasons than we have here. Tell us if it works well for you though.

 

I saw something on telly a while ago where they grew some sort of beans on the ground, that doesn't climb. It was on about sustainable low maintenance gardens in Africa, but they said it would work here too, but I don't know what type of beans they were.

 

Thanks for the replies . I am actually trying out the three sisters on a small scale. I have figured out the spacing etc but i'm not sure about the beans/peas to the corn (sweetcorn). I just thought it would be fun to see if it works. The area I am planting in is sheltered and sunny all day. I've grow sweetcorn successfully last year so i'm not worried about that bit. Will use a mix of butternut squash & pumpkin.

I'm in ireland btw

 

Carol Kline did it on her veggie growing progamme I am trying it with French Beans sweetcorn and courgettes

 

how many french beans are you puting to a corn. i was going to use some courgettes but i've changed around a few things in the garden i'll be using butternut squash, sugar baby , pumpkin + honey dew. As I dont have a need for 2 much of each of these