[matt80]

I'm thinking about having a go at the three sisters thing of having french beans grow up sweetcorn.

I've got a small plot and only have room for 6 sweet corn plants (in a 3x2 grid). From what I've read this isn;t many and they might not pollinate well. If this is the case then I don't want to the space to have been wasted, which is why I want to grow french beans alongside them in case of failure. Does this sound reasonable?

If so, what is the technique for sowing the french beans - do I literally sow it an inch or so away from the corn root?

[matt80]

Or... is this more trouble than its worth?

[gobs]

Well Mat, there is the search botton, plenty of threads on this in the past.

[Trillium]

More trouble than its worth. 6 plants will likely have hit and miss pollination - some kernels will be there, many will be missing as its not enough plants. I'd just go for the french beans of which they'll crop well without greedy corn taking up all the nutrients.

[gobs]

I forgot to say, Three sisters is what to search for, plenty info on it, if you only have room for 6 corns, you might need to do a bit of shaking in way of pollination.

[jazzbyrd]

Before I got my allotment I grew sweet corn in a large tub 6 in the tub. Every year I got really good sweet corn but only two cobs to each plant. Each one was a good size! One year i tried 3 in a grow bag and still got two or three to a plant! However I used to gently tap the plants to aid pollination.

Jazzbyrd

[gobs]

Before I got my allotment I grew sweet corn in a large tub 6 in the tub. Every year I got really good sweet corn but only two cobs to each plant. Each one was a good size! One year i tried 3 in a grow bag and still got two or three to a plant! However I used to gently tap the plants to aid pollination.

Jazzbyrd

That's quite OK, Jazz, that's the normal crop, 2-3 a plant.

[jazzbyrd]

Ok Great ~ i didn't do too badly then ....I felt like I was only getting two because of the confined space  :oops:

Jazzbyrd