A classic technique often recommended for interplanting crops is the 3 sisters, were Corn has beans and squash planted between
This method was used by the Plains Indians in the USA and works very well , unfortunately when applied to UK conditions and varieties it doesn’t!!
I have developed a method which I have used to great effect over a few seasons were we use Sweetcorn and dwarf French beans as companions which do work and the nitrogen fixed by the beans benefits the growing sweetcorn
The main reason 3 sisters doesnt work is is that the original method uses maze a far stronger growing plant and is larger before the pole beans are planted
One of the classic beans used was “Trail of Tears” so called because in 1838 the Cherokee people were driven out of their homelands in the state of Georgia by the US government to make room for more European settlers , a forced march known as the ‘Trail of Tears’ were thousands perished. This bean is one of their heirlooms they managed to keep with them and has been passed on from generation to generation ever since
Another great way to improve sweetcorn is to underplant with the green manure Trefoil
Each month at Learn How To Garden Dot Com we'll publish a monthly video sharing gardening tips, how-to-dos and what-to-dos. Only subscribers will get access to these exclusive videos - all it will cost is your email address!
Please fill in your name and email address below and hit the submit button. You will get an email telling you when the latest Newsletter is available and notices of any new videos.



