I was wondering if anybody had tried the "three sisters" growing method or some variant. This was something that native americans did... planting corn, climbing beans, and squash all together so the beans climb the corn stalks, and the squash shades out all weeds along the ground. I don't like squash, but I was thinking of planting something like corn and snap peas, with cucumbers or melons in place of squash. I got this idea because I was thinking of putting together a trellis system for peas but I'm lazy. I would rather just plan a $1 pack of corn than go through the effort to buy materials and build a trellis. Last year I planted some corn but it didn't do well. I think I only got a single edible ear. I didn't plant nearly enough to get the pollination required, but in this case they are primarily something for peas to climb so if I don't get much or any corn I don't really care. It would be a nice surprise, though.
I have tried with success, support planting using the tallest corn variety and cucumbers. The soil should be rich with tilled in manure , space the corn in grids for height support, and the vines should be panted on the perimeter of these corn grids...
I've had great success with this using Ecuadorean white corn, scarlet runner beans, and kombucha squash. Next season I'm going to give it a try with Taber sweet corn. I see no reason that peas shouldn't work the same way.
I've used this approach to good effect as well, though if you want to use peas in place of beans, you'll need to be attentive to variety: most peas stop producing in the hot weather in which corn and beans thrive. Perhaps the root shading effect of the squash will offset this. I've found the pea varieties "Ho Lohn Dow" and "Rembrandt" seem to continue producing through the summer, and into the fall.
I hadn't thought about the timing aspect. I will probably just have to suck it up and build the trellis, and do some other kind of pole-bean and corn.
I don't think the corn would work well for peas unless you were doing it for a fall pea crop. Then it would probably work fine. :) I think you will just have to build a trellis. I make mine out of 1/2 in. electrical conduit and attach the netting with cable ties. It works really well and wilh nylon netting it will last for many years. :)
