How to Plant The Native American 3 Sisters Method

This is a wonderful method for planting corn, beans and summer squash together. The Native Americans used this method for years! Do not worry, if you do not have garden space, this would go beautifully along a fence row. The idea behind this is that the corn provides a growing post for the beans and the summer squash provides a low cover to protect animals from getting into the corn and beans. If you would like to omit the squash, it also works great with just beans and corn. I had wonderful success with that as well.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• green bean seeds
• corn seeds
• summer squash starters or seeds (I suggest starters for ease)

1. The first thing after you prepare your planting area ((See my article about preparing for a garden)) is to plant your corn. On your rows about a foot apart you will want to poke your finger in the dirt and drop 3 corn seeds inside. Cover gently and water thoroughly. In a couple of weeks this will start to grow and you can thin down to one seedling. Pick the best of the three that sprouted and just pull the others.
2. Once your corn is about a foot tall (don't worry, corn grows fast), then you will prepare more hills about half a foot from the corn hills. In this poke holes about an inch deep, dropping in two to three bean seeds. You do not need to thin these as they grow. Within a couple of weeks you should have good growth to your corn plants and the beans should have sprouted and started to grow. When the lead shoots off the beginning bush you will want to train it around the corn stalk. You shouldn't have to do this too much because beans have a mind of their own and wrap themselves around anything tall they are close to.
3. When your beans start to grow and latch onto the corn really well, it is time to add your summer squash. You will want to go about a foot in front of the beans and dig a depth deep enough to plant the transplants. cover and water as usual.
4. As all of your plants grow up they should shield each other and work together off of each other to promote their growth. Harvest squash as they get to a good size (remember to not let summer squash grow too large because they will get tough and pithy inside). Check them daily to be sure none grow too large. Harvest beans when they are desired size and the beans inside the pod feel full (remember to never let any beans mature on the plant or it will not continue to put out new growth). Harvest corn after silks have died and dried completely. (You can cheat by gently pulling back the tops of the husks and peeking at the top kernels for a clue).

Tips & Warnings

• Remember! Gardening is fun! Try new things and don't be afraid to experiment!