[PupStar]

I have just been reading and planning my sweetcorn bed and was curious as to what others grow inbetween their corn.

What is suitable for the space. I still have peppers and chillis to go out or could I put say beetroot between them or none of the above?

Thanks

Mark

[angelavdavis]

The only companion type planting I have heard about with sweetcorn is the "three sisters" approach.  I have only managed two of the the three by planting courgettes under sweetcorn plants last year.  All did well.

[HilaryG]

For the last 3 years I've done the 3 sister bed which is sweet corn, courgettes and dwarf beans. It was successful but harvesting the beans was a bit of a mission so I decided to do just courgettes under the corn this time. Or perhaps just the beans would work too?

[mumofstig]

Sweetcorn is very greedy and IMO it's not a good idea to plant things in between them.
Planting pumpkin/squash on the outside of the bed and letting them ramble through the corn works, though. It uses the space without robbing nutrients.

[bazh]

I undersow my corn with crimson clover, I've never put any veg between the rows.

[Yorkie]

Sweetcorn is very greedy and IMO it's not a good idea to plant things in between them.
Planting pumpkin/squash on the outside of the bed and letting them ramble through the corn works, though. It uses the space without robbing nutrients.

That's what I do 

[waddecar]

Sweetcorn is very greedy and IMO it's not a good idea to plant things in between them.
Planting pumpkin/squash on the outside of the bed and letting them ramble through the corn works, though. It uses the space without robbing nutrients.

That's what I do 

Me too

[PupStar]

thanks guys, on another site I read they suggest things such as lettuce, radishes and most small vegetables.

[Gandan57]

Lettuce and beetroot.

[PupStar]

Lettuce and beetroot.

cheers, I might just give them a go.

Any other suggestions?

[JayG]

After struggling last year with a semi-duff packet of sweet corn seeds I reduced the area for planting them this year, and needless to say, got nearly 100% germination from a packet which contained more than the "average" 35 seeds.   

That means I'm going to have to really push my luck by planting about 10" apart (I just can't throw sweet corn plants away!) - it would be detrimental to both the sweet corn and anything else to try to interplant at those spacings, but even at the recommended spacings I think "2 sisters" is more than enough given our recent summers, especially at my sort of latitudes.

[bazh]

After struggling last year with a semi-duff packet of sweet corn seeds I reduced the area for planting them this year, and needless to say, got nearly 100% germination from a packet which contained more than the "average" 35 seeds.   

That means I'm going to have to really push my luck by planting about 10" apart (I just can't throw sweet corn plants away!) - it would be detrimental to both the sweet corn and anything else to try to interplant at those spacings, but even at the recommended spacings I think "2 sisters" is more than enough given our recent summers, especially at my sort of latitudes.

JayG I've had a decent crop with 12" spacing (but prefer 18" as I like to undersow with a green manure) so I'd guess you'll be ok, but expect the odd plant to fail or just produce one cob but it will be just the odd one.

[Hampshire Hog]

I am trying borlotti beans among the corn this year.
Theory is that if I can't get at the beans as fresh beans I can let them dry and use
in the winter in soups etc (rehydrated)

Cheers HH

[Swing Swang]

Sweetcorn is very greedy and IMO it's not a good idea to plant things in between them.
Planting pumpkin/squash on the outside of the bed and letting them ramble through the corn works, though. It uses the space without robbing nutrients.

Wholeheartedly agree with this

[Rangerkris]

Sweetcorn is very greedy and IMO it's not a good idea to plant things in between them.
Planting pumpkin/squash on the outside of the bed and letting them ramble through the corn works, though. It uses the space without robbing nutrients.

I am going with this again this year.