Corn and squash together

[OnionPatch]

My garden space is somewhat limited. In my last garden I grew some fabulous sweet corn and would love to double the space I plant with corn this year. But that would cut into my winter squash area and the family loves winter squash. It keeps so well that we always grow lots of it and eat it all through the winter. It's sort of a winter veggie mainstay. I wouldn't want to give up growing as much squash as I always do.

So I'm wondering, can I really grow squash right in with the corn? I always hear that this is what the Native Americans did. They also grew climbing beans on the corn, didn't they? Wouldn't this stress the corn plant, though? It must be awful taxing on the soil. I'm guessing I would have to fertilize heavily. What sort of fertilizer would you use? Has anyone tried this? If it works, I want to try it. It sounds like a great way to grow lots of corn and squash. :9

[Kolesar]

1. I put a squash plant in between two blocks of corn and the vines grew left and right, between them

Expect to side dress every four (?) weeks or so. My hunch is to use organic chicken manure fertilizer. Chicken manure is featured in bags of fertilizer at the garden center or Home Depot. I found it in Miracle-Grow and one other brand, IIRC. Chicken manure has a lot of nitrogen, so don't over-do it.

I am trying to get away from crowded plants because the garden does not have enough sun throughout the day, though.

[OnionPatch]

2. I shouldn't have a problem with the fertilizer, then.

I have seven chickens who will be happy to oblige. But I don't have any manure "cooking" right now. Our chicken manure is mixed with fine wood shavings, which will need to age too, so I better get some cooking. Do you know how long it needs to age before I can apply it? I may need to buy some initially.

Sometimes in my hot, dry area, (southern California) the garden gets too much sun, and things burn. So I think the crowded aspect will not be a problem for me. No doubt the plants will benefit from some filtered shade, and cooling ground cover. I'm curious to see how this works out.

[Kolesar]

4. I am no composting expert, and I fertilize with seed meal

So I don't know how to advise you on how long to compost the chicken manure. I would think that if you prepared the compost pile, you would have something usable in a month.

[NMDemDist2]

3. this wiki article explains it pretty good I think (I especially like planting the dead fish) LOL

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(agriculture)

[OnionPatch]

5. I think I'll skip the fish this time.

I wouldn't want to contaminate my crops with mercury. ;) I've got lots of chicken manure. I'll put it to good use.

Thanks for the link. I googled some more and found some plans.