Indian corn and squash are good companions in your garden, on your plate and as autumn decorations. Native Americans depended on the crops for survival. Corn and squash originated in Mesoamerica, the area spanning from Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Indigenous people cultivated corn, or maize, and squash for more than 10,000 years, according to the Friends of Ganodagan website. Today, Americans use Indian corn and squash less as a primary food source and more as seasonal decoration.
Names
Indigenous people raised chiefly flour and flint corn, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Flint corn derives its name from its very hard stone-like outer shell. Flint corn, commonly known as Indian corn, features brightly colored kernels and is used for industrial purposes, livestock feed and as decoration.
The first mention of the vegetable now known as squash was in Roger William's 1643 book, "A Key Into the Language of America." Natives used the word askutasquash, which means "green things which may be eaten raw," according to Epicurean.com. The term squash actually applies to four different species of plants, including winter squash, summer squash, gourds and pumpkins.
Three Sisters
Indigenous people depended on the "Three Sisters" of crops: corn, squash and beans. Some gardeners today carry on the ancient tradition of planting all three in one spot in a technique agronomists now refer to as companion gardening. Food growers plant several corn seeds in the center of a mound, which measures about a foot high and 20 inches around. When the corn is about 6 inches tall, the grower alternates beans and squash seeds around the corn stalks. The corn acts as a support structure while squash serves as ground cover, its leaves reducing moisture loss and prickly vines deterring insect infestation.
Colors
Squash comes in three varieties, named for the season of harvest. Summer squash grows in a bush while autumn and winter squash grow sprawl out on vines. Various types of squash feature different skin colors, ranging from deep green to yellow. Pumpkins, a type of squash, turn a beautiful orange.
Indian corn is famous for its multi-colored kernels. Each kernel is an individual embryo, complete with its own genetic code, which means each kernel can sport its own color. Furthermore, Indian corn kernels can display gradient or streaked colors due to an interaction between pigment genes and transposons. Transposons are genetic elements that move in such a way that causes a genetic mutation resulting in a streaked pigment, the Scitable website explains. This mutation continues through cell division until the corn reaches maturity.
Decoration
While both crops are edible, contemporary Americans often use Indian corn and squash as part of autumn decorations. Cut corn stalks at the base after the plant has dried to a light brown. Bind several plants with twine about a quarter of the way down the stalks and pull the bottoms out to form a tripod that stands on its own. Pull the husks back slightly to allow the brightly colored kernels to show through. Arrange different sizes and shapes of squash along the bottom of the stalks, alternating among green, yellow and orange squash. Add pumpkins and hay bales for a more complete decoration.
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