The Three Sisters planting method
The Three Sisters planting method is one of the most famous companion planting schemes that has stood the test of time. Heralding from ancient Native American tradition, this planting concept has been used for over a thousand years for three specific vegetables: corn, beans and squash.
These three vegetables are planted in a circle formation to create a companionship that is perfect for growing and protecting each plant.
Let’s find out how these plants establish a symbiotic relationship to grow big and beautiful produce:
Corn
Corn is the support system out of the three sisters. Corn is fast-growing, tall and strong and is perfect for bean poles to climb up and grow healthily. This allows the beans to have adequate sunlight and means you do not need a trellis for them to grow on.
The best corn to use is flour or flint corn as they grow to the very end of the harvest season.
Beans
The beans are the nutrient suppliers in the three sisters trio. They are a nitrogen fixing plant and connect with nitrogen fixing bacteria to supply it to themselves, the soil and other plants around them. Beans are essentially the feeders to the corn and squash.
For the three sisters planting method to work, you must use pole beans as they are climbing beans and do not take up too much ground space.
Squash
Squash gives the right amount of shade for the other two plants. Because of their big, wide-spread leaves, a squash plant can protect the soil, roots and bottom of the plants from the sun.
These big leaves are also a great weed deterrent, and will ward off pests and unwanted insects with its spiny vines. Any type of squash will work great in a three sisters garden, including pumpkin or even zucchini.
How to plant a Three Sisters garden bed
- Choose a spot that gets a good amount of sun (6 hours or more). Because corn is wind-pollinated, you should prepare mounds of soil that are spread a couple of metres apart.
- Prepare your soil; it should be rich in organic matter. Rake your soil into large mounds with the top of the mound flat. Any compost or fertiliser should be added to the soil now as well.
- In mid to late spring, plant around half a dozen sweet corn seeds or young saplings in a circle about half way into the raised bed.
- When the maize is around 10-12 cm in height, add four bean seeds around each young plant.
- Shortly after the beans have germinated, add half a dozen of your squash seeds placed in a circle, between the sweet corn plants and the edge of the mound.
- Keep the beds very hydrated by watering often. Avoid splashing the squash plants with too much water.
- For maintenance, weed as necessary, and feed regularly with a general purpose vegetable feed.
As you can see in the image below, your corns, beans and squash should be planted in a circular fashion to ensure maximum benefits and protection are established.
Three Sisters planting tips and tricks
- If you do not want corn or cannot find a suitable corn type, then you can plant sunflowers instead! They are just as easy to grow and will provide an adequate ‘trellis’ for your bean poles to climb.
- Once your corn is planted and sprouting, it is always a good idea to push the soil up around each plant so the wind does not destabilise them.
- If you do not have enough space for a full garden bed, you can actually use your three sisters in a container version. This can be done by finding smaller varieties of corn plants and using zucchini instead of larger squash types.