[SalB]

Guy on the next door plot to me is going on about Three Sisters Growing. Does this actually work in UK (Hertfordshire to be precise!) ?

Is it easy to do , and if I tried it could I use courgettes instead of squashes and peas instead of beans?   

Yet another "daft" question from the newbie , who now has paths and a lawn for a disabled friendly plot! 

Sal

[mumofstig]

Have a look at previous thread
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=2416.0

[JulesJ]

I know some people think it's a bit of a gimmick, but I'm going to try it this year. Corn, with French beans growing up them, and squash inbetween. It's got 2 choices; I don't have the space to grow everything separately anyway.

[Yorkie]

A number of posters have tried this in the past, with mixed success - I'd say the comments for the combination of all 3 plants were more negative than positive.

One main issue seems to be that the 3 sisters method was developed for hotter, sunnier, drier climate than ours.  Also that shade can be cast which doesn't help too much.

That being said, I don't think it's impossible and yes (subject to shade and access to pick) you could substitute as suggested.

For more info search the GYO board for three sisters and see what the previous posts say

Edit: beaten to it by other posters!

[celjaci]

2 sisters, sweetcorn & squash worked well for me. Sweetcorn needs wider spacing than usual so not too shady.
To work with beans as well is difficult. Sweetcorn needs a head start so it's not swamped then beans may be late. Also needs tall sweetcorn.

[mumofstig]

If you put your squash/pumpkin in about 18in away from the sweetcorn roots and just let them trail between the corn stems it works quite well space wise. No competition at roots and the shade from the squash leaves reduces evapouration from soil for the sweetcorn.

[Chiswickian]

In Carol Klein's book she states that it's only really suitable if the beans and corn are grown for drying. though she doesn't make it entirelyclear why.