Three Sisters Garden
With the historical theme of companion planting we decided to have a garden bed for a Three Sister approach. According to legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations. They work together with the corn providing a natural pole for bean vines to climb; beans fix nitrogen on their roots, improving the overall fertility of the plot by providing nitrogen to the following year’s corn. The bean vines also help stabilize the corn plants, making them less vulnerable to blowing over in the wind. The shallow-rooted squash vines become a living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thereby improving the overall crops chances of survival in dry years. The large amount of crop residue from this planting combination can be incorporated back into the soil at the end of the season, to build up the organic matter and improve its structure. Below is a list of the specific plants we used for our Three Sisters Garden
Corn Zea Mays
Zea mays are a annual growing to 2 m (6ft 7in) at a fast rate. It is in flower from Jul to October, and the seeds ripen from Sep to October. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils. It cannot grow in the shade and requires moist soil.
Runner Beans: Painted Lady Improved
Incredibly beautiful bi-colored blossoms are very attractive to hummingbird moths. This strain is less affected by warmer temperatures than other runner beans and is a prolific bloomer. They are esteemed as both an ornamental and edible climber. Runner beans prefer full sun, although they tolerate part shade very well. Young pods can be eaten whole, or the beans can be eaten fresh or dried. Even the flowers are edible. In our garden the corn will serve as poles for the beans.
Runner Beans: Scarlet Runner
One of the oldest runner beans in existence. Known as early as 1750 according to Miller’s Dictionary; listed in America as early as 1822 by Thorburn. Used for ornamental purposes or as a vegetable: small snap pods or green shell beans.
Early Sugar Pumpkin
The Early Sweet Sugar Pie is a thick-walled, fine-textured pumpkin variety that has a sweet, flavorful flesh. It is perfect for pies, soups and canning, and produces three to five 6-8-lb. orange fruits per vine. These dark orange small pumpkins also make cute little jack-o'-lanterns as well.
Butternut Squash
Prized for its straight necks, rich dry yellow-orange flesh, nutty flavor, and high-yielding vines. Fruits are 3-6 pounds and exceptional keepers. This is one of the most popular types of baking squash.
Cucumber Muncher
These cucumbers are smooth, medium green 9" long fruits. Plants height at maturity is 1’-4’ and requires full sun. Strong vigorous vines produce an abundant supply of tender cucumbers. Muncher is aptly named because these non-bitter cucumbers can be eaten like an apple straight from the garden. Harvest while small to medium-sized for best flavor. Keep harvesting fruit, even if misshapen, to keep vines productive. Muncher is Cucumber Mosaic Virus resistant.
Updated June 22, 2011
Crowl, Michelle A.