Planting a Three Sisters Garden

"Three Sister Garden" is an inter cropping method of gardening that has been used for many years and particularly by the Native Americans, they believed that corn, squash and beans all grew best together. They would plant corn (the first standing tall and providing a pole for beans to climb), squash (the second sister growing over the dirt and protecting big sister from weeds as a living mulch) and beans (the third sister) climbing through the squash and up the corn keeping it all neatly together and providing nitrogen to the soil which all heavily rely on for good growing. Here are some tips to grow a great three sister garden:

1. Find a space in full sun and try to plant beans that climb or runner beans and squash with trailing vines. Pick your spot and prepare your dirt, till, remove weeds and rocks, add compost and test soil. Keep in mind your garden needs regular watering, so make sure it is easily reachable with your garden hose, sprinkler or some sort of source to water the garden.

2. Plant your corn first, create a growing circle and plant your corn seeds in the center area of your growing circle about 6 inches from each other.

3. After your corn has begun to grow and is about 6 inches high, using a small hand trowel dig up some of the dirt from the base of your corn stalks(your corn will have established roots to keep it strong and tall in the ground but still be careful not to disturb those roots). then sow your bean seeds in a circle pattern about 6 inches out from your corn.

4. A few days after the beans start to sprout, plant your squash beans about 12" out from your beans.

5. As everything begins to grow you may need to help it along, the pole beans may need help directing them to the corn and wrapping around the stalks, the vines of your squash may need to be directed inward, this is all normal and will not disrupt or hurt your garden in any way. Just always be careful and gentle with the plants.

6. Once your corn has hit the "green"stage and you see the silk peeking out from your ear of corn and it is dry and a brownish color your corn is ready to be harvested. Corn is easy to pick, pull a little lower than the stem and pull towards the ground until it snaps right off. Corn tastes best when picked and immediately cooked.

7. Beans can be harvested when they are firm and crisp. Always pick beans when the plants are dry, even from dew as the moisture will spread disease. If beans are picked at the right time the flowers will come back and with it a whole new crop of beans.

8. Squash can be harvested after the skin has hardened and is firm. Try to keep the stem attached and intact while picking as the squash will rot quicker if you do not.

Follow these directions, water regularly, keep your eyes open for any critters that may come into your garden un-invited and find plenty of ways to organically fight them and you will have a delicious harvest to enjoy this fall!