The indigenous people of Mexico sowed corn, beans and pumpkin in their fields at the same time. This mixed culture has been practiced for thousands of years and with good reason. Find out below how corn and beans complement each other wonderfully as a mixed culture and how you can create a Milpa bed yourself.
What are the advantages of a corn-bean mixed culture?
In the mixed corn-bean culture in the Milpa bed, corn plants serve as climbing aids for pole beans, which provide nitrogen and attract insects. Pumpkins protect the soil from drying out and weeds. Sun, nutrient supply and water are crucial for growing these plants together.
The origin of the Milpa bed
Even today, the term milpa is used in Mexico for fields where corn and beans are grown mixed with other native plants. The term originally comes from the indigenous language “Nahuatl” and means something like “what you sow in the field”.
Excursus
Pesticides instead of Milpa
Unfortunately, this organic farming option has largely been pushed out in Mexico, as mixed culture is no longer necessary thanks to pesticides that are highly harmful to the environment. Anyone who still grows like before without using chemicals is considered outdated. There are currently over 100 pesticides in circulation in Mexico that have long been banned in Europe. Many of them are produced by German companies.
The dream trio: corn, beans and pumpkin
The mixed culture of beans, corn and pumpkin has several advantages:
- The corn serves as a climbing aid for the runner beans, which saves the purchase and construction of climbing aids.
- The beans supply the corn, pumpkin and other plants on the bed with nitrogen.
- The long flowering of the beans provides food for bees and other insects.
- The pumpkin provides shade at the roots and prevents the soil from drying out and weed growth.
The right type of bean for the Milpa bed
Only runner beans are used in the Milpa bed because only these climb. However, you should make sure that you choose a low-growing variety so that the beans do not literally outgrow the corn. Varieties with a height of up to two meters are ideal.
Tips for creating bean-corn mixed crops
- The bed should be as sunny as possible so that beans, corn and pumpkin get enough light. Sun, nutrients and water are the be-all and end-all for a bountiful harvest.
- So that the corn can give the beans proper support, it is advisable to grow it at home and plant the corn plants in May and plant the bean seeds next to them.
- One to five bean plants can be sown around one corn plant.
- In addition to natural nitrogen fertilization, it is advisable to provide the bed with some compost or horn shavings.
Tip
Experiment! Mix other plants into your Milpa bed, e.g. climbing or ground cover plants, to create your very own version of the Milpa bed.
