Help MBE grow his dinner 2012

lemonjelly

All the best for you John. Hopefully you'll be playing/planting soon.

Angelfeathers

emiff6 wrote: »

Bother! In that case they'll have to go along the edge of my veg plot where I usually grow allysum. What can I grow the shade of the beans then? Don't tell me it's just lettuce, 'cos I'm really not all that keen on lettuce.

As others have said (I'm catching up!), squash is supposed to work well. I'm going to have a go at the Three Sisters technique this year where you grow beans up corn and have squash trailing around underneath to cover the ground. They're all supposed to benefit each other. :-)

Oh! Or you can train the squashes up a nearby wall or fence. Just drive in a few screws at various points and their little clingy creepery bits will cling on and haul them up the fence!

lolly5648

Angelfeathers wrote: »

As others have said (I'm catching up!), squash is supposed to work well. I'm going to have a go at the Three Sisters technique this year where you grow beans up corn and have squash trailing around underneath to cover the ground. They're all supposed to benefit each other. :-)

I have heard about the 3 sisters technique but doesn't corn grow much slower than beans, or it did for me last year, so I am not sure if it will work. I did grow courgette round the beans which worked in theory but last year was a terrible one for courgettes.

annie123

John, that sounds painful hope, hope you're better soon. Must be terrible for your wife missing all that hoovering and washing you usually do!;)

It's been so long since I had any rain here that I don't remember when it was. Wouldn't even know where to find my brolly, haven't used it all winter.

My back is grumbling about the exercise it's getting, lifting and moving things in the garden, digging and sifting soil so having to stop every hour for a tea break which seems to make it happier.

Another lovely day due so house work quickly first, then back out in the garden. I've taken the opportunity to hard prune some large shrubs and move others as I'm down one fence so it's easier to get to them.
I want to have it not looking like a messy allotment by the end of the week so I can stop walking mud/dirt into my home.
Have they invented 'mud won't stick to these shoes' yet?

Angelfeathers

lolly5648 wrote: »

I have heard about the 3 sisters technique but doesn't corn grow much slower than beans, or it did for me last year, so I am not sure if it will work. I did grow courgette round the beans which worked in theory but last year was a terrible one for courgettes.

I don't know as I've never grown corn before! I'm hoping if I sow the corn first (I sowed it in pots last week) and let it get established, then sow the beans later, the timing will work.

I'm also going to try growing beans up sunflowers, for which I found instructions to plant a pot-raised bean at the foot of each sunflower when the sunflower's 2 foot high. I suspect they'll still need support anyway but it'll save space and if they all help each other anyway it'll be worth it!

aliasojo

Not sure if this is of any use to anyone here but Morrisons have large (55cm) plastic bell pots for a fiver (black or terracota colour).

I was about to spend a tenner on one that size in Dobbies so it was good timing for me.

furball

This weekend we have put new fence up. Then i planted 50 beech whips and 2 apple trees. Today i have planted 30 plants, 200 bulbs seeded back lawn to be and cut front grass. Veg seeds going in later if i have time. The border in front of the fence is for my veg.

furball

Joining this thread and having to post pics don't half make yer get off yer bum.

Sambucus_Nigra

Angelfeathers wrote: »

As others have said (I'm catching up!), squash is supposed to work well. I'm going to have a go at the Three Sisters technique this year where you grow beans up corn and have squash trailing around underneath to cover the ground. They're all supposed to benefit each other. :-)

They do. If the corn, beans and squash are to be used for winter foods [so dried beans, cured squash and dry corn] and you live in the USA where they have long hot summers.

Here - this just does not work.

mrbadexample

furball wrote: »

Joining this thread and having to post pics don't half make yer get off yer bum.

You are a shining example of that fact. We (i.e. you) will have finished the garden by June. :rotfl: