Growing corn on the cob

[Nature's Babe]

I agree, I usually plant my squash outside the corn and trail it in among them to shade the roots, sometimes I have used climbing peas instead of beans. It wouldn't work in a huge area, my raised beds are just wide enough for me to be able to reach into the centre from either side. The soil needs good preparation too as they are heavy feeders. The climbers need to be up and away before the squash get going

[Johnboy]

Hi NB,
I am becoming confused. (which is permitted with those who are apparently in their dotage) You talk of good soil preparation but how do you manage this with your no-dig system or do you have other beds which are dug?
JB.

[Nature's Babe]

Hi Johnboy, I am quite likely older than you, which is one of the reasons I favour this way I add layers on top in the early autumn, cardboard for weed supression,then some leafmould, manure, compost, whatever is to hand, lasagne method. With new beds I add in some rockdust to boost soil minerals and some dried seaweed, I top it all with a layer of chicken straw to stop any erosion. It decomposes and settles overwinter ready for planting in spring, just rake off the rain cleaned straw to plant and return round the plants to start a summer mulch. I add dried lawn clippings to the mulch as the worms work it into the soil, the worms dig it for me. Also as long as there is no disease I leave plant roots in the soil, these decompose over winter leaving nutrients and opening drainage channels. Any weeds that survive this are easily pulled out through the mulch because the soil under the mulch is moist and not compacted.

[alan refail]

Hi Johnboy, I am quite likely older than you, which is one of the reasons I favour this way

Far be it from me to ask a lady her age! Johnboy is probably the oldest (and wisest) member of the forum, being in his 81st year - and still going strong.

A useful link for you:

memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=13

[Nature's Babe]

Not giving my age away - just say we are close, obviously gardening is great for keeping us active, keeping our strength up and mind active, a lady needs a little mystery,

[glallotments]

We've grown squash, sweet corn and runner beans in the same bed for a couple of years with good success. But the sweet corn would be swamped if we tried to use them as support for the beans. We grow the beans up canes. and although the squash are not planted under the sweet corn they scramble under them. It's a sort of compromise to the traditional three sisters method.

The varieties of sweet corn grown by the American Indians were probably much larger sturdier plants than the sweet varieties we grow nowadays.

[Mike Vogel]

Just to let you know that we have had the most delicious corn-on-the-cob I have ever tasted. But not many cobs. I think we are going to end up with 10 cobs from 15 plants, which isn't a good yield. I suppose the very dry weather made them suffer rather, in spite of my mulching; I should have watered them more often.