market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Market Farming
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- From: robert schuler <sunnfarm AT bellatlantic.net>
- To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings
- Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 19:32:58 -0500
Without seeing a picture of what you describe I don't think the corn would
produce any marketable ears unless it was thinned to three seeds per hill
and suckered.
I do have a workable squash corn method that I have used and found very
productive. I seed sweet corn in 6 row beds 500 to 1000 feet long and 40"
apart with a 10 ft wide alley between each corn bed. After last cultivation
I seed by hand squash between rows 1&2 then 3&4 and 5&6, I pick corn from
row 1 from the alley then between rows 2&3, 4&5 and row 6 from the alley.
The alleys are for spraying and irrigating. My method allows squash to grow
without getting in my way for corn harvest. I only seed between rows 3&4
with winter squash, this method works best with the early 60 days corns that
have short stalks and less shade. Weed control is very hard without
herbicides, I have found that cultivating corn up to 30" tall then seeding
squash/ pumpkins then applying 1/2 ounce of Sandea herbicide per acre
compliments both corn and squash... Bob.
Sunny Meadow Farm
Bridgeton, NJ.
>
> The information I have is for a hill system, not a row system. It says
> to space low hills 3 to 4 feet apart both ways; plant five to seven
> corn seeds in each hill. When corn is about 6" high, and after weeding,
> plant four or five bean seeds in each hill, and four or five
> pumpkin/squash seeds in every seventh hill; planting them "around the
> corn plants" (the diagram shows them planted just outside the corn but
> right next to it). Alternatively the rows of corn hills can be planted
> further apart, planted with corn and beans as above, but the
> pumpkins/squash can be planted in their own row(s) of hills between the
> rows of corn/bean hills. This if I'm reading the diagram right allows a
> somewhat higher proportion of squash to beans than the 1/7 of the first
> technique.
>
> You could probably use a row system but similar seed proportions and
> timing. There should apparently be a little less bean seed than corn
> seed, and considerably less squash/pumpkins if you are planting any of
> those.
>
> >
> > Also, how does the vining of the pole bean effect the growth of the
> > corn
> > ears? Curious to know if the yield is better or worse than normal
> > production.
>
> It's my understanding that intercropped systems in general produce a
> higher total yield per acre, but a smaller yield of each individual
> crop. That is, if you planted an acre of mixed corn and beans, it would
> produce more than an acre planted as 1/2 acre each of corn and beans
> planted separately; but the corn crop would be less than that of an
> acre of monocropped corn, and the bean yield less than that of an acre
> of monocropped beans.
>
> I don't know if anyone has done enough studies to give an indication as
> to whether this would apply in your situation.
>
> > Does the corn need to be planted in wider rows to accommodate
> > the squash or to allow sufficient ventilation?
> >
>
> You might have to play around with this one if you can't find anybody
> who has tried it with row systems in your area. The hill system spacing
> given above might give you some ideas; bear in mind that it's from the
> relatively cool, humid, and short season Northeast. But the info I have
> does state that if you use too much squash/pumpkin it can choke out the
> rest of the planting; you have to get the proportions right.
>
> -- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
> Fresh-market organic produce, small scale
>
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-
[Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
mtlivestock, 03/22/2005
- RE: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings, Marie Kamphefner, 03/22/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
road's end farm, 03/24/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings, robert schuler, 03/24/2005
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
-
[Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
tonitime, 03/22/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
Mark A Abner, 03/22/2005
-
RE: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
Marie Kamphefner, 03/22/2005
- Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings, Mark A Abner, 03/22/2005
-
RE: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
Marie Kamphefner, 03/22/2005
-
Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings,
Mark A Abner, 03/22/2005
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