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?
we used sunflowers last year, they seemed to like it ;D
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.
Quote from: manicscousers on February 02, 2010, 21:29:54
we used sunflowers last year, they seemed to like it ;D
I like the sound of this manics...I think I might give it a go !!
Duke
Manics, did you grow the short sunflowers or the monsters? Or the multiple branched ones?
it was a mix of saved seeds, all different colours, it was really nice ;D
I might do this too, I love sunflowers.... :)
I also grow borage and calendula with my squash; looks pretty and attracts plenty of bees as well... ;D
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!
I grew blocks of sweetcorn and had winter squash planted inbetween and weaving its way around the corn, both lived quite happily together
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. ;)
how much space did you leave between corns for that ?
Quote from: elvis2003 on February 03, 2010, 09:54:11
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.
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
Quote from: elvis2003 on February 03, 2010, 10:32:15
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!!
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?
Quote from: Mortality on February 03, 2010, 10:55:21
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.
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.
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
I grow them under sweet corn, beans and tall peas.
I like the idea of growing flowers alongside squash, as has been said, would no doubt help pollination. Are you growing them up trellis' or letting them ramble? Now trying to think of suitable flowers ....... I wonder of Morning Glory would work????
I am not sure that flowers will help the pollination of squashes which is mostly done by tiny beetles.
I'm with Robert in favouring the three sisters. Perhaps sweet peas as they will add nitrogen that the squash like. I grew some squash up supports but I think they actually like running across the ground where they put down extra roots. I grew some lovely butternut squash amonst the corn and beans last year.
I'm going to try yin-yang beans in with mine this year.... I seem to have plenty of seeds (mostly self-saved) plus it's a set adn forget crop (much like squash once it's growing proprly and set some fruit....
and it shoudl pull in the bees.....
chrisc
Quote from: Digeroo on February 09, 2010, 08:52:12
I am not sure that flowers will help the pollination of squashes which is mostly done by tiny beetles.
I'm with Robert in favouring the three sisters. Perhaps sweet peas as they will add nitrogen that the squash like.
most of the pollination of squashes on our allotment site is by either bumblebees or honey bees.
and peas and beans, although they do have a symbiotic relationship with a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, keep all of it to them selves, until they are dug in for the folow-on crop.
Quote from: 1066 on February 09, 2010, 08:35:01
I like the idea of growing flowers alongside squash, as has been said, would no doubt help pollination. Are you growing them up trellis' or letting them ramble? Now trying to think of suitable flowers ....... I wonder of Morning Glory would work????
My morning glories usually get wrapped tightly around other plants because I'm not always around to discipline them. I wonder if they'd strangle the squash stems?
I'll grow some squash on the ground as usual but try some up a fence the only problem being, they'll only have a half-day sun on the fence... but it is a very hot protected area...plusses and minuses :-\ as usual...
hadn't thought about how vigerous Morning Glory can be!! I thought the blue flowers might look good in amongst the squash :)
Cosmos and Phacelia self-seeded in the middle of my squash bed and looked lovely.
Quote from: Squash64 on February 09, 2010, 14:17:50
Cosmos and Phacelia self-seeded in the middle of my squash bed and looked lovely.
Now that's interesting considering how delicate young cosmos look. Maybe I'll try that. Thank you for the idea. :D
I'm having second thoughts about growing sunflowers because of animals getting in to eat them and maybe trampling my squash. The raccoon would definitely attack the corn so that is impossible though it sounded like a winner.
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on February 09, 2010, 15:11:54
Quote from: Squash64 on February 09, 2010, 14:17:50
Cosmos and Phacelia self-seeded in the middle of my squash bed and looked lovely.
Now that's interesting considering how delicate young cosmos look. Maybe I'll try that. Thank you for the idea. :D
I find that once Cosmos grow, they sometimes get a bit 'top-heavy' and need some support. When they grow among the squash the squash leaves provide it.
Hi there
I use the three sisters every year but I plant beans for drying. That way I do not have to pick them until everything is ready. Then I have lots for the soup pot.
This method of planting is good because the squash also keep the weeds down.
Kind regards
Jitterbug
Last year I did very well with Three sisters, previous had been a complete muddle.
I planted the squash on the edges but they trailed right through the bed. I made sure that each bean or pea kept to its own corn plant no wandering. I had five lovely BNS and loads of turks turban, lots of corn, and plenty of beans and the mice enjoyed the peas. The bed was fairly narrow so I could pick the corn/beans without treading on the squashes. About the width so I could lean in from each side, there were four plants across that space. Pollinated well. Four batches of four rows (16 each batch) two weeks apart.
I was worried that they were too close but the corn reached about 6 ft +. Plenty of cobs - grew ashworth pity about the lack of taste. Grew Franchi as well, nice red stripes to leaves much better taste.
Hope to add sweet peas and nasturtiums to the mix this year for a bit of colour.