The three sisters are a form of companion gardening.You can increase the bounty of your crop by planting corn, beans, and squash together.This is a good method for vegetable farming.The corn should be planted in late spring.Continue with beans and squash after a few weeks.You can find lots of delicious vegetables in the fall.
Step 1: You can choose a large spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight.
There is not enough space for the three sisters to grow to their full potential.The plot should be at least 10 by 10 feet.The plot should not be near shaded areas.
Step 2: The soil should have a pH between 5.5 and 7.
Corn, squash, and beans can be grown with a neutral pH.You can get a soil pH testing kit from your local extension office.If you need to amend the soil, do so before planting.Lime can be mixed into the soil to raise the pH.Add sulfur if you need to lower it.These can be purchased at garden stores.
Step 3: There are heirloom varieties of corn, beans, and squash.
Heirloom varieties grow well together.If used, non-heirloom varieties of beans may grow too large and overwhelm the other plants.Corn varieties include flint, dent, and flour.You will have to harvest sweet corn much earlier than other plants.Pole or runner beans are better than bush beans.Green beans and pinto beans work well.Pumpkin or squash can be used in this configuration.Squash and pumpkins are good for winter.
Step 4: There should be mounds for each plot of plants.
Use your hands to pack dirt.Take out the top of the mounds.The mound should be 1 foot high and 3–4 feet wide.Keep the mounds 3–4 feet apart.Use a stick to mark the center of the mound.Measure and find your mounds with this.The corn will grow in the mound with the beans and squash around it.
Step 5: The soil should be fertilized with traditional or organic fertilizers.
The three sisters grow well organically.To keep up with this practice, prepare the soil by applying an organic high-nitrogenfertilizer around the mound.For a very traditional approach, you can use fish scraps.If you decide that you don't want an organic garden, you can use a basic 10-10-10fertilizer.
Step 6: The corn should be planted in late spring.
You want to plant the sisters about 3-6 weeks after the last frost.Most places will have this in May.You can find the frost dates in your area by contacting a local weather service or extension office.An almanac can be consulted.
Step 7: For seeds, soak the corn for 3-6 hours.
Put the seeds in a bowl of water.For every mound you plan to plant, soak about 4-7 seeds.If you soak the seeds for more than 8 hours, they may rot.
Step 8: Plant seeds in each mound.
The seeds should be 6 inches apart.Place the seeds at a depth of about 1– 1.5 inches.After that, cover them with soil.
Step 9: After planting, water the mound.
Wait until the soil is damp.Continue to water the mound about 1 inch a week.This is about.6 gallons per square foot.
Step 10: The seedlings should be trimmed once they are 3–4 inches tall.
Don't keep more than 3 or 4 plants.Weed out the smaller seeds while choosing the stronger ones.The plants should be about 20 cm apart.
Step 11: Wait until the corn is at least 10 cm high.
It may take a few weeks for the corn to grow.The beans and squash can be planted once it is roughly this height.
Step 12: The patch needs to be weeded before the beans can be planted.
There are weeds around the mound.You need to remove their roots with a trowel.The soil will be clear for your beans.
Step 13: The bean seeds should be planted around the corn.
The beans should be planted around the corn.The bean seed should be 6 inches away from the corn.To learn how deep the seed should be planted, read the packet of your bean variety.You don't have to stake the pole beans.They will grow up around the corn.This is a benefit of growing corn and beans together.
Step 14: When the beans have sprouted, plant 6 squash seeds.
After a week, little green sprout should appear from the bean seeds.The squash should be planted evenly around the edges of the mound.The squash needs a lot of sun, so make sure they are not in the shade.The squash should be planted 1 foot away from the beans.If you have more than one mound, you should only plant pumpkins in the other mounds.Your garden will not be overwhelmed by pumpkin vines.
Step 15: Water the plot for a week.
It takes.6 gallons for every 1 foot of the garden.If it doesn't rain in your area during the week, you only need to water the garden yourself.
Step 16: The mulch should be between the mounds to prevent weeds.
If you live in a dry area, mulch will keep the soil from drying out.There are mulches containing wood, leaf, or straw.As squash vines provide a natural ground covering, you don't need to mulch the area around each individual plant.If you want to do a Native American three sisters plot, you should skip the mulch as it isn't traditional.
Step 17: When the plant is mature, harvest it.
The harvest depends on what type of plant you have.You can harvest vegetables in the fall.It's a good idea to harvest your vegetables on a dry day.When the outer husks are dry, corn is ready to be harvest.When it's ready, cut open an end kernels and it will release a fluid.When beans have turned hard and dry, they are ready for harvest.Green beans should be tender when you harvest them.Squash and pumpkins can be Harvested once the outer flesh has hardened.You can pick it if you can't puncture the skin.
Step 18: Allow the beans to break down in the winter.
The process of adding nitrogen to the soil will make your sisters more successful in the second year.Leave the dead plants alone.