Growing Corn on the Cobb

[NICI]

Hi everyone
This is my second year at my allotment and this year am attempting to grow corn on the cobb.

I was watching Carol Kleins grow your own veg on TV and she was talking about growing Corn in a block with runner beans growing up them and pumpkin/squashs grown underneath to shade from the sun
Anyone tried this before
ta

[NICI]

[caroline7758]

Try a search for "three sisters" as this is what this method is called. Quite a few people here have tried this, but not me as yet!

[Robert_Brenchley]

It was originally involved cropping everything togetehr at the end of the season, I've always kept shy of adding the beans as I've never grown corn that was tall enough for climbing beans, and I don't like the idea of pulling it about all the time to harvest green beans. Corn and squashes work well though.

[terrier]

.. and they're all thirsty plants! Be prepared to do a lot of watering if you try it.

[TISH]

i am planning to plant my barolotti beans with the corn - since I want them to store dried.

[fi]

i grow my sweetcorn and butter nut squashes the three sisters way, i've read it is a south american way of growing them. i have a few token climbing beans and some sunflowers on the edge. Usually it is succesful requires lots of well rotted manure prior to planting.

[Jeannine]

Originally it was used for growing things that were used for stored winter food, winter squash, corn that was left on till it dried out and was later ground into flour, and beans that again were left till the pods dried out.This way everything was harvested. at the same time when everything was dried up This is still used by folks who grow the old dent corn and  it  is easy to do.

The same system is used with more modern corn, and with beans that folks like to pick regularly, and with squash growing at the base of the corn but  it is hard to pick the beans and harder to reach the corn however it is becoming somewhat  popular because you can grow a lot in a little space.

Originally is was grown in a circle, a mound actually, and all the seed was planted straight into the ground, (not all at the same time)  In the UK though you would need to use transplants  certainly for the corn and squash.

I might do  this  again  this year as I now have a very tiny growing area and it would be ideal for that.

Go for it,  there is lots of stuff on the net about how to plant, most is American and will tell you to seed direct but you  don't need to.

XX Jeannine

[plainleaf2]

here is a way to do the three sister to get fresh and not dried produce with out the complications and mess.

[Sparkly]

I have tried this, but found it was near impossible to get in to get the corn once the squash really took off!

[plainleaf2]

Sparkly having tried the three sisters once and ending up with mess that is why i redesigned
it for modern harvesting needs.  A diagram of my redesign can be found a few posts up .

[Jeannine]

It is a decent system Plainleaf but has no similarity to the three sisters method at all.XX Jeannine

[plainleaf2]

Jeannine is basic the same crops as three sister but none vine versions of the crops and
version of crops for fresh eating.
Very few people grow beans for drying ,field corn for making corn meal, and as for winter squash most varieties vine and cover a large area.
When people keep mentioning the three sister  using sweet corn and climbing french beans.
I can't hep but laughing since most don't have clue what mess they subjecting others too.

[Jeannine]

Well, I wouldn't laugh at anyone for trying something, don't you find that a wee bit mean? I would try to inform someone of what they are in for if they asked for advice,anyway you better get ready for a laugh if you think it is OK  because I am doing it this year myself, and I am not using corn for drying, although I have in the past.

I think if the plants are done in the exact way and best in a circle is can be done in the modern way but ideally it is better for the older varieties. The timing and spacing have to be correct though.

Your system is good for mutual nourishment as was the original.

XX Jeannine

[Robert_Brenchley]

When people keep mentioning the three sister  using sweet corn and climbing french beans.
I can't hep but laughing since most don't have clue what mess they subjecting others too.

Since you've never mentioned your experience of this, I think a few people may be sniggering at you!

[antipodes]

I have always grown the corn, squash and beans like this, it works really well. I grow drying or half-dry beans, or dwarf french, just keep them around the edges so you can pick them. It doesn't matter if the squash goes rampant just step carefully into it to pick the corn.

[NICI]

THANKS EVERYONE for all your advice
Will definately give this a go this year and will add sunflowers on eitherside to make t look nice

[Jeannine]

Ideally plant it on a mound about a foot high and about 10 feet accross,  flattened on  the  top, grow corn  just in the centre of the flattened mound, the beans then suround the corn, and the squash plants are planted in the sides of the mound... don't put too much in. If you want more speciifics I can give them to you.

XX Jeannine