Another Three Sisters Post

[HunkieDorie23]

Ok my garden is going in slowly because my husband has been very sick since the end of March. Needless to say I have some beans in but not my pole beans. This is my first year for pole beans and I was going to make a tee pee thing but then remember that I could plant them with the corn. Since I am so disorganized my corn went in 3 wks ago and is big enough. I just planted picklers but they don't look great, one is giving in to the heat and two are dampening off.

I planted my corn in 3 rows grouping 8 inches apart so there is spacing between the rows. I have Kentucky Wonder pole beans and I read that I need to soak them, so they are soaking now. I have 9 row of corn total, 3 rows of 3 rows. What I was thinking was planting the pole beans between one group then maybe plant some picklers between the middle group and maybe some squash between the last group. Can you mix it like that. It doesn't have to be just corn, squash, and beans right. In the past I have always had pumpkins growing in my corn not because I planted it like that but because the pumpkins would just head towards them every year. I don't know why but that the direction they go.

 

[catjac1975]

Hope your husband comes around soon.

 

[digitS']

There are some problems with planting summer-harvested veggies in a Sisters garden, 'Dorie. It may be hard to get in there during the growing season.

If the plants are growing close together, and even if they are not, you may be walking on vines, tangled in vines, wrestled to the ground by vines . . .

If the veggies are harvested after the growing season as dry corn, dry beans, mature squash & pumpkins - it won't matter much if you have to step on the plants or even cut things out of your way.

I hope your husband is well soon, 'Dorie. I really know what it means to have an ill spouse - difficult times.

Steve

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Thanks for all your concern, I tell John, he'll appreciate it. We went to OSU today and they are going to have to do at least too more procedures to fix this and it looks like it will take all summer and maybe into the fall. He only has one kidney and it is acting up so they are trying to make sure it stays functioning. He's only 43 so we just weren't expecting it. You expect things to go wrong when your older but I don't think 43 is old.

I planted the beans between the corn this morning before I went to work. 6:00 am and in the garden, good times. I used to do that all the time when I had summers off but now I work summers I hope they don't cause too many problems with harvesting the corn. I planted them with a lot of space and they actually took up 2/3 of the corn that way so I don't know if I will plant the last bunch with the cucumber or not.

 

[catjac1975]

Wow! Extra sad that he is so young. His youth will be in his favor for a great recovery. Blessings to you both.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My sympathies as well. My father and grandfather both had kidney problems, so I really wish your husband good luck.

I think Digits hit the key. The summer harvested veggies can make it more difficult, but you can generally work around that. You just have to be careful. I'd go ahead with the cucumbers. What do you have to lose by trying it and you will gain some experience with the technique?

I generally grow winter squash with my sweet corn. It does make it more difficult to walk around in there, but I still harvest the corn and get some nice winter squash.

 

[baymule]

No experience with it my self, but on another forum, I read that planting pumpkins in the corn helps deter raccoons. It seems they don't like the spiny pumpkin vines. I am so sorry your husband is not doing well and hope he gets better soon.

 

[so lucky]

Sending good thoughts to you and your husband from Missouri. My dad had only one kidney for about 30 years. He had to be a little careful, but managed. Hope your DH's outcome is good, and speedy.