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Was talking to Ten today and remembered advice on intersowing - seemed v useful...grow parsnip and radish (which apparently come up quick) together, to guide early hoeing of parsnip.

anyone else got any intersowing tips?

Yes, I have used the radish and parsnip technique, and have found it very helpful for hoeing as you say.
Another one I have used is to plant lettuces in between late brassicas, eg broccoli, as the lettuces are well gone before the broccoli need more space. However, that is not sowing, so it may not be what you are asking!

Just noticed complimentary planting thread (doh!) which is probably how the conversation with Ten begin...soz to start another thread about same thing...though not sure it is the same, don't know me gardening terminology enough..

Hey ho.. ??? ;D

I once heard that you can grow squashes under sweetcorn - is that true?

I know the theory behind sowing radish and parsnip together but it is a doubled edged sword.

There is a very real danger of disturbing the young parsnips when you pull the radish. Although it takes a little longer I prefer to sow a line-using a string to keep it reasonably straight and putting three seeds in `station` every threee inches or so.

Stephan.

Sowing in station - is that where you put a few seeds together in a little block at intervals down a line?

........or is it the stuff that falls ut of your pocket while you wait for a train......?

QuoteSowing in station - is that where you put a few seeds together in a little block at intervals down a line?

Yes,

Hi Cleo,i know it's not edible!! but we have a good sale on at our place till the end of the month!! If you're interested!

Sorry to intrude,gardeners!!

For aquilegia - sweetcorn and squashes.

I've read about the native american practice of growing beans, corn and squash altogether, to the mutual benefit of all three, but haven't tried it - the squash gets support, and shades the corn's roots, keeping them a little moister and cooler.

Beans or peas and sweetcorn - I know that works well.  I saw that in Yemeni fields, and tried it myself.  Half the sweetcorn planted out with peas sown beside them were noticeably bigger and healthier than the other half, in the same bed, without peas.

All best - Gavin

I quite fancy doing that with sweetcorn and peas this year Gavin - I've never tried sweetcorn before - I bought some Northern Supersweet to try - would the sweetcorn support the peas?   I read sweetcorn should be planted in a block 10-12" between each plant - what distance would you recommend between them when intercropping?

Hi Ceri - I used the same spacing, 10-12inches.  The peas - I don't remember what they were now (Hurst Greenshaft, maybe?) - weren't that tall, but only 3 out of the twelve climbed up the corn; the others soon flopped over and were pretty well eaten by slugs.

I'll try again this year - thought of putting canes at each end of the block, and threading twine through this time,  but will probably just stick in a few sturdy twigs.

Good luck - Gavin

I always grow my pumkins under my sweetcorn..they are both heavy feeders and need loads of water, ..........got 4 large pumpkins off one plant last year ;D  DP

I would guess using Sweet corn as a support for peas would not work.

It boils down to growth rates of each and timing.

Perhaps a late pea sowing might be OK