Thom Bri

I doubt it matters, rows or hills either one will work. I like my glass gem.

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Around here I see sweet corn, pumpkins, eggs, meat. On the edges of town all kinds of things.
You have small town restaurants or grocery stores in range?

Ryan Burkitt wrote:

Really cool thanks for sharing did you have to build mounds for the corn?

I built the mounds several years ago and reuse them year after year. They run 4 to 6 feet center to center, leaving plenty of space between hills for other crops. Usually beans, squash, cantaloupe, potatoes, tomatoes etc.

Peas and beans get planted on the same hill as the corn. The other stuff is in the gaps between the hills. I have several long threads here on permies you can look at. Lots of pics and details about how I do it.

https://permies.com/t/279261/Sisters-Garden-year

By the way I am not stuck on linseed oil, it's just what I first learned to use years ago. I have heard that tung oil actually makes a stronger bond with the wood so is 'better' in some ways.

I use linseed oil. I sand off ALL the commercial finish and rub the oil in. It's tacky for a few days. Usually treat any handles several times. Rub oil in then remove the excess with a cloth, then do it again a day later.

I am guessing maybe you didn't get all the original finish off when you sanded. Or, just used too much tung oil and didn't wipe it down afterwards.

Ryan Burkitt wrote:

Christopher Weeks wrote:

The bean plant won’t strangle the corn too much? I watched a video and a guy did three sisters, but the bean plant over grew the corn and smothered the whole thing plant.

Some, but the corn still produces good ears.

tuffy monteverdi wrote:

Ryan Burkitt wrote:I want to attempt the three sisters method this year. I was thinking of using Montana Lavender Clay. However, when I grow Montana lavender it’s usually 5ft tall and I’m afraid the beans will over grow it. I’m not sure if this variety gets taller than that. I’ll admit I didn’t fertilize it the best so they might have grown taller. Will Montana lavender work for the three sisters method? If not, I want try another heritage Native American variety.

Can you trial peas instead of beans? Or some w peas, some w smaller bean plants? Peas seem less tall and less heavy, less aggressive.

I have had pretty good luck with peas and corn. I plant the peas earlier because they don't seem to tolerate shade as well as beans.

Depends on where you live. Look around locally for seed sources.
Or, acquire several different varieties and mix them all together to create your own local variety.
Regarding beans overgrowing. I just let it happen. Plant the corn first and when it is well-sprouted then plant the beans. The corn gets a good head start and can pollinate before the beans get too big. Both do well if the corn is not planted too close together.

Hmm. I have never selected for white, since part of what I want is the  various vitamins and phytochemicals added to my diet. I select for color, the more and more intense the better. Mostly reds and purples, but getting a lot of pink and brown and blue and some green seeds as well.
This year for Christmas I received several packs of colored corn seeds, mostly black and purple, but also a pink popcorn. It'll all get added in.