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 crops. The term originally comes from the indigenous language "Nahuatl" and means something like "what you sow in the field".
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Digression
Pesticides instead of Milpa
Unfortunately, this ecological cultivation variant has also been largely displaced in Mexico, as mixed cultivation is no longer necessary thanks to highly environmentally harmful pesticides. Anyone who continues to grow without using chemicals, as they did in the past, is considered out of date. 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 cultivation of beans, corn and pumpkin has several advantages:
- The maize serves as a climbing aid for the runner beans, which saves the purchase and construction of climbing aids.
- The beans provide the corn, pumpkin and other plants in the bed with nitrogen.
- The long flowering of the beans provides bees and other insects with food.
- The pumpkin provides shade at the roots and thus 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. But you should make sure that you choose a low-growing variety so that the beans don't literally grow over the head of the corn. Varieties with a stature height of up to two meters are ideal.
Tips for creating a mixed bean-corn culture
- The bed should be as sunny as possible so that beans, corn and pumpkin get enough light. Sun, nutrients and water are essential for an abundant harvest.
- So that the corn can give the beans proper support, it is advisable to prefer them at home and to expose the corn plants in May and to plant the bean seeds next to them.
- One to five bean plants can be sown around a corn plant.
- In addition to natural nitrogen fertilization, it is advisable to add some compost or compost to the bed Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) to supply.
Tips
Experiment! Mix other plants under your Milpa bed, e.g. B. climbing or ground cover to create your very own variant of the Milpa bed.