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Post by daylilydude on Jan 12, 2011 4:43:03 GMT -5
I know that in 3 sisters gardening you can plant beans around corn, but how big must the corn be before you start the beans?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2011 6:29:20 GMT -5
Grandma always used to grow "Cornfield Beans" although I have not done it like that. If I remember correctly, the corn was usually a couple feet tall when she would plant the beans, but not sure.
Steve
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2011 6:54:10 GMT -5
2-3 ft at least. I only grow the corn and the squash together. I don't bother with the beans there. The rabbits will just eat them. A Three Sisters garden is mostly for winter storage. So it would be a dried bean and a corn for flour. Just the crops on the outside of the plots would be eaten fresh. And some of those squash are not Curcubits, they are Lagenarias for storage containers.
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Barton
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Zone 6a-ish Lake Erie influenced climate
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Post by Barton on Jan 12, 2011 12:44:05 GMT -5
2-3 ft at least. I only grow the corn and the squash together. Ditto... with winter squash.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 23:12:09 GMT -5
I am going to try growing some pole beans (dry beans) on some corn also this summer. I have never done it before but it sounds interesting....I am not so interested in really eating the corn, but rather needing it for the beans to grow on. Is there a certain kind of corn that is better than others for growing beans on? Some stalks are stronger? Taller? I live in zone 6B in MA if what kind of corn makes a difference...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 6:11:45 GMT -5
If you're not going to eat it, just use a large ornamental corn. Then you'll have some fall decorations too.
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Post by sorellina on Jan 14, 2011 11:14:09 GMT -5
You want a tall sturdy corn variety for this, Rich. I grew Triple Play last year for my Three Sisters corn and it wasn't sturdy enough to support the Mayflower beans. Hopi Blue is a really good candidate for this and I'm sure others can chime in for other options. If you want a really pretty ornamental corn that's also very sturdy, you could grow Japonica Striped. I have seed for all 3 varieties mentioned here if anyone's interested.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 18:36:15 GMT -5
quote author sorellina If you want a really pretty ornamental corn that's also very sturdy, you could grow Japonica Striped. I have seed for all 3 varieties mentioned here if anyone's interested. Sorellina, I have been seeing that Japonica Striped Ornamental Corn for a few months now in catalogs....it is absoultely beautiful. I would LOVE some of the Japonica Striped corn if you have extra. I will use that to grow my pole beans on.....you and I are both on the same train that dirtdiggin just sent out yesterday, heading to you right now, I think the train is coming from you to me as the next stop if you could put some in a small envy with my name on it I would be very grateful....my screen name here is the same as in the idig forums....what a relief, I have been trying to figure out what kind of corn will hold up my beans, there is a gazillion kinds of corn, and you have one that I have been eyeing in catalogs....
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Trudi
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Post by Trudi on Jan 14, 2011 19:11:30 GMT -5
I've done several 3 sisters. You need a very sturdy corn and I wouldn't sow the beans until the corn is at least half its mature height.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2011 19:12:52 GMT -5
Trudi, are you in agreement with japonica Striped being a sturdy enough corn?
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Trudi
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Post by Trudi on Jan 14, 2011 20:37:47 GMT -5
Well, if it grows at least six feet that would be fine. You can't do some dainty darling thing like strawberry popcorn or any of the little mini-indians. One of the most important thing to do is "hilling up" which is covering the stem roots with a good amount of soil, making the mound as high as is is wide around the corn. This is important because the roots will take hold in the soil mound and keep the corn sturdy and upright. I once made the mistake of growing corn in a new lasagna bed. It grew magnificantly but the soil was too loose and could not support the stalks in a thunderstorm. The corn leaves were saturated, which added weight to the stalk, and the fierce winds just blew it all down. Making a good mound of soil to cover the roots which grow down from the stem is going to be a big help in keeping it all upright. Even so, with the squash vines, you may still see toppled stalks. Bean vines aren't heavy and they aren't too strong, but squash vines can be unforgiving in their conquest to take over your garden.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 15, 2011 9:27:30 GMT -5
2 And some of those squash are not Curcubits, they are Lagenarias for storage containers. I saw pics of Canteen gourds on Pharmer Phil's Phorum. They are cool looking. What are your plans for lagenaria this year, FP??
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2011 7:15:20 GMT -5
I know I have birdhouse, swan and penguin seeds. I may still have a few mixed from Sandhill and I think apple. I do love the look of the Caveman's Club. I'm sure I could find room. I can't grow most of the bigger ones. They have too long a DTM.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 17, 2011 8:47:40 GMT -5
Didn't you receive some Bushel ones recently in an exchange?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2011 7:12:08 GMT -5
I don't remember if they were bushel, but some Lageneria. Yeah, I'll grow those too. I did pick up some pretty purple ornamental corn in the Fall along with a few others. I'll plant some of those seeds along with my saved seeds. I want to grow more corn this year. I can always feed the extra to the chickens and ducks.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2011 7:15:31 GMT -5
Blue, see that beautiful gourd in your avatar? I'm pretty sure my seeds came from the same vine. Duh, I wasn' t thinking. lol
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rintintin
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Post by rintintin on Jan 18, 2011 21:38:47 GMT -5
The bottom line for getting 'near' full harvest of corn is to not allow ANYTHING to sprout around it until it is at the 10 leaf stage (at least 8 extended leaves). If it detects any green wave light being reflected from below it prior to that, it will grow tall and spindly, with stunted root development...barely able to support itself, yet alone a 'clinger-on'. Without proper root development, you will not have a decent corn crop.
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