Allotments 4 All

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.