Companion planting with Winter Squash??

[GrannieAnnie]

Pardon me for being on an endless winter squash kick  but I've been snowed in with the grandkiddies and pouring over seed catalogues and got an idea of growing some sort of tall flowers in all the squash beds I'm dreaming of (I'll have to steal more of hubby's grass.)

 Has anyone tried companion planting flowers in the middle of squashes?

[manicscousers]

we used sunflowers last year, they seemed to like it 

[Digeroo]

I like the sound of flowers and squash they take up some much room.  I would also like to grow some in my front garden and like to have it attractive as well as productive.  I have some logs as a seat in my front garden and usually have squash and nasturiums rambling over it which looks quite attractive.

I like the sound of sun flowers and squash.  The only problem with sun flowers is that all sorts of things seem to eat the seeds before they get to grow.  Even with protection they seem to disappear.

[Duke Ellington]

we used sunflowers last year, they seemed to like it 

I like the sound of this manics...I think I might give it a go !!

Duke

[GrannieAnnie]

Manics, did you grow the short sunflowers or the monsters? Or the multiple branched ones?

[manicscousers]

it was a mix of saved seeds, all different colours, it was really nice 

[Tulipa]

I might do this too, I love sunflowers....

[Deb P]

I also grow borage and calendula with my squash; looks pretty and attracts plenty of bees as well...

[elvis2003]

great idea! iwe had planeed to move the squashies to where we normally have an array of sunflowers and was beginning to miss them(already) now ill try both hoorah!

[lottiedolly]

I grew blocks of sweetcorn and had winter squash planted inbetween and weaving its way around the corn, both lived quite happily together

[tonybloke]

I always plant squashes under the sweetcorn, they like the cooler, slightly shaded position. also plant pot marigolds (calendula) around the edge of the beds to increase pollination.

[elvis2003]

how much space did you leave between corns for that ?

[tonybloke]

how much space did you leave between corns for that ?

I plant 3 rows of sweetcorn in a 4 ft wide bed the outside rows are about 9 - 10 inches from the edge of the bed, the other one up the middle.  all plants are approx 16 - 18 inches apart (ideal for wind-pollination) but, add plenty of well-rotted FYM before planting.

[elvis2003]

thanks tony,ours were roughly that far apart last year,but i thought looked a bit too shady for under planting,but ill take your word for it and give it a go this year!
rach

[tonybloke]

thanks tony,ours were roughly that far apart last year,but i thought looked a bit too shady for under planting,but ill take your word for it and give it a go this year!
rach

they do try to escape from the beds, but just kep pointing them back in, they'll be fine!!

[Mortality]

I seem to remember someone on the forums saying about the three sister's way.
Sweetcorn, Squash or pumpkin and climing beans or peas. Does it work?

[tonybloke]

I seem to remember someone on the forums saying about the three sister's way.
Sweetcorn, Squash or pumpkin and climing beans or peas. Does it work?

yes, in south america, where they want to harvest them all at once, and the corn and beans have dried on the plants.

[GrannieAnnie]

Planting  beans you want to pick green with corn and squash doesn't work well because they're a nightmare to try to pick without stepping on the squash.

[lottiedolly]

I planted them in blocks so they can wind polinate approx 12" apart & in 4 rows, they both worked well together, the squash do try to rampage a bit but you just turn them back in, i cut off some of the larger squash leaves and it is easy enough to pick the corn as i was able to walk through them and not tread on the runners of the squash. Last year i grew courgettes between my corn, worked equally as well, it is good use of space as we love corn, but  it can take a lot of room

[Robert_Brenchley]

I grow them under sweet corn, beans and tall peas.