Three minus one Sisters

[Barnowl]

Should I sow the squash seeds at the same time as the sweet corn?

[Barnowl]

[sarah]

i would. are you planting direct or starting in modules? i think think they will both grow at such a rate that they will be equally well established in good time. if yuo were throwing climbing beans into the mix i would be inclined to start them off sooner although i think traditionally theyare sown around the sweetcorn seed at the same time.

[shirlton]

I grew them last year and I grew them all in pots and planted them at the same time. This year I will plant the squash on the outside and then train it through as it grows. I did put canes at the corners of the square to support it all.

[Barnowl]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm planning to start them both in root trainers but also some sweetcorn in those cardboard pots (whose real name I can never remember) to see if there is any difference in outcome.   Just four squash, one from each corner where I'll have dug in plenty of composted manure. I'm growing beans separately - one step at a time and also I'm not sure the timimg will work for beans grown for eating now rather than saving.

[sarah]

sounds good.  when i did it i planted the squashes (corgettes i think actually) in amongst and they didnt do great. another time a sowed the beans when i transplanted the corn and they never caught up.  good luck.  ;)

[Barnowl]

Thanks :)

[antipodes]

I am trying this this year. I started off the corn and squash (pumpkins) in pots then planted the squash and corn and sowed the beans all on the same day. I am afraid that I was a bit poorly this week so I haven't been to see if the beans have germinated! But we have had lots of alternating rain and sun so I expect they have by now.
Piccie?


And yes I expect I have planted too many squash but they can trail over the edges if they need to. The patch was filled with manure so hopefully they will have a good feed.

[Barnowl]

Just had a thought - do squash grow towards the sun?

If so, instead of four corners, I should plant along the edge of the bed that is furthest from the sun.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They grow in any direction. If you want to keep them within the bed, just turn the stems round when they reach the edge, and they'll grow back across it quite happily.

[Suzie Q]

I grew the three together last year - found the beans outgrew the sweetcorn so I would recommend growing sweetcorn in pots and only when it is quite tall to start the bean by pushing the seed straight in

[daileg]

i grow mine up a trellis corn are doing fine allthough i keep my beans in the bed next as for picking purposes corn and squash separated by a piece of timber they share the same soil use chicken pellets cos there greedy

[silly billy]

Instead of squash would it be ok to grow pumpkins? Do the squash get enough sunlight to ripen?

[loopyloulou]

thanx for the pics i guess i need to have a go at that as it sounds good... will go n see what shirltones looks like n copy :)

[beckydore]

Does squash need any protecting. I've started mine off with cells (and the others) and the squash is starting to get to the size where it is squashed. I wasn't sure whether I needed to wait till after the end of the month.. and also if the slugs / birds would get them?
Becky