Kitchen Garden Forum

I always like to plant a couple of pumpkin plants mainly for decoration at Halloween, what about putting a plant in the middle of the runner bean rows between the canes? I can train it longways then, would it get enough light?

Compo

I tried that in 2006 Compo and they didn't grow properly, I think, as you say, because of bad light. However, it was the heatwave summer and they could have been fighting with the beans for water, and losing.

I grew (or rather, didn't grow ) a few different pumpkins and squash under the runner beans and the only thing that was happy was the Patty Pan which was prolific.

If you try the American way of growing pumpkins under your sweetcorn with beans growing up the sweetcorn, that may work, as they will be well spaced out.

I tried courgettes under my runner beans last year and they didnt like it, but thanks for the tip on patty pan Chantal, I have nowhere to put mine so that might be just the place. I'll put them in first and plant the beans out a couple of weeks later.

How about putting the pumpkins on your compost heap Compo?

Hi,

I'm trying the three sisters planting plan this year for the first time. I have sweetcorn, french climbing beans and either courgette, marrow or pumpkin planted together. All going well so far. Will report back.

How far apart would you plant the sweetcorn to allow the pumpkins / courgettes etc to breathe?

Compo

I couldn't find any specific planting advice so I have planted them very close. My reasoning was that the beans need to be planted as close to the sweetcorn as you would plant them next to canes so they could use the sweetcorn as support. It seemed like a good idea to plant the courgette/marrow/pumkin close too as they will be providing ground cover keeping weeds down and moisture locked in. The object of the exercise is to save space and maximise growing potential. The space between the groups is about 12-18 inches and they are planted in blocks as for sweetcorn. Watering and feeding is concentrated in one area at the base of the 3 plants. It might be an utter failure but if it works, I like the idea of getting three crops from the same space.

Hi NBK

There was some discussion last year - not all encouraging - re Three Sisters HERE

I tried three sisters planting, but all that meant was that when the ********* badgers trashed my sweetcorn they also trampled the beans and squash as well.

The idea in the US is that the rough leaves of the pumpkins deter racoons - their major pest.

Clearly British badgers are tougher than nimsy liddle racoons.(Damn them)

So if you have badgers keep your sweetcorn on its own - preferably in a moated island with fences and barbed wire

When I win the lottery, I'll work the moat etc into my planting plan!

Thanks for the laugh!

Ddiolch 'ch achos 'r bostio Alan. Hope that's translated! I should have persisted in my research but the plants were bursting out of the pots and my OH was pushing for a decision on what to plant where. It's a small block so I'm hoping to be able to access from all sides. Or it maybe another one of those ideas to be consigned to the compost bin. Back to the drawing board!

Ddiolch ail

They are rampant, they need acres of space,don't cramp their style or they will get mildew!

Cheers

I grew mine on the top of the compost heap last year.

It is a good idea but my compost heap is not well rotted enough at the moment, I will put it somewhere and hope for the best, the broad beans will be gone in a couple of weeks so that looks like a likely spot, will work some manure in me thinks.

Compo