Three Sisters

[Tigger]

Now that's a good idea.

I've tried the usual beans and picking them is a problem, but drying them out in situ would be very sensible. Thankyou Sally.

[cevenol jardin]

I tried the 3 sisters combo twice first time was not successful as the beans grew faster than the corn, there was too much competition for the available nutrients and light so they all suffered. The next time i started with the corn and when it was up to my knees sowed haricot for drying and planted out the pumpkins (hokaido). Still not a brilliant result. Now i grow corn on a 45cm x45cm block spacing with pumpkins on the understory (1 to every 5 corn) and this works pretty well, as it keeps the soil moist and weeds down naturally. This year i am going to try beans again but round the edge of the bed. The idea of growing the beans is to add nitrogen for the hungrier crops so i am still persevering.
Maybe the issue is getting the right varieties, spacing and nutrients?
I really would not think courgettes would work because of picking as others have said and because the plants grow far too prolifically.

[Christine B]

Thanks for that. I think I have decided to leave the beans out on my first go and just put some squashes in and see how that goes. The general concensus definitely seems to be that the beans are the problem.