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Vegetable Gardening

Three sisters minus one?

17 years ago

Ok, this may sound weird. I would like to do a three sisters type corn squash/pumpkin planting but without the beans.

I have all my seeds for bush type seeds so, I don't really need pole beans.

I typically plant my corn in rows and thought that planting squash or pumpkins between them would do ok.

Has anyone done this?

i live fairly close to Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts and they plant the corn in groups of 3 or 4 seeds and spaced a bit further apart in rows. I would think this method would be great for vining pumpkins or squash.

What do you think?

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Comments (3)

User
17 years ago
The beans are just an accessory to use the stalks of the corn to grow on.

The squash provides a "natural mulch" for the corn which is the most beneficial relationship of the 3 plants, imo.

Substitutions work...I've seen people use sunflowers instead of corn and etc.
jimster
17 years ago
I can't think of anything wrong with your idea. Just space the corn widely enough to allow light in for the squash/pumpkins. You will have more flexibility in choosing a corn variety because you will have no worries about the corn stalks being strong enough to support the beans in a strong wind. As I understand it, sweet corn and even some field corns aren't suitable for the traditional three sisters method.

Jim
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eaglesgarden
17 years ago
The downside is that the beans provide nitrogen for the corn and squash.

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