The Three Sisters Planting Map (for an 8' x 8' bed)

Transcription

1 The Three isters The Three isters, a Native American growing method, is an excellent example of companion planting. This was perfected by trial-and-error and observation, centuries before soil scientists learned about plants' nutrient requirements. orn, squash and pole beans are the three companions, each helping the other flourish more than they would alone. orn provides a stalk for the pole beans to climb. The tacky surface of the bean leaves help repel animals from climbing the corn stalks and eating the corn. While the corn and beans will occupy vertical space, the squash will take up more horizontal space. It's large, broad leaves will act as a mulch, by shading and preventing the soil from drying out, and also blocking out weeds. Beans are legumes, which work with certain fungi attached to their roots, to help fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. o, year-by-year, the beans keep up the nitrogen level, which is vital for the corn and squash, both being heavy nitrogen feeders. From a nutritional point of view, harvesting and eating corn, beans and squash will provide a very well-balanced diet, so the Three isters work together for both human health and their own plant health.

2 The Three isters When planting the Three isters, do not plant the corn in rows. Rather, the corn and beans will be planted in a little mound, with each mound having a few corn and bean plants in the center. A few feet away from the corn / bean mound, the squash will occupy it's own mound. The patterns are mapped out on the following pages. The following instructions and maps are general guidelines to get the spacing right. There is no need to use a tape measure, but just keep these dimensions in mind for approximate spacing. It's also good to show gardeners that using triangles is an efficient way for spacing. Each corn and bean mound needs to be around five feet apart, to allow enough light and space for the squash. The general planting scheme can have each set of three corn/bean mounds forming an equilateral triangle, which is a lot more space efficient than using squares. The squash mounds will be centered in between the corn/bean mounds, and on the outer corners. The goal is for the squash to sprawl and cover all the flat space between each corn mound. Once the spacing of the corn/bean and squash mounds are determined, it's also important to understand the spacing and timing of the seeds within each mound. The spacing will be shown in great detail in the following pages. The corn plants need a head start, so there's enough height when the quick growing beans to start climbing. A few weeks after the corn was sown and has reached 6 12 inches in height, the beans can be planted with the corn, and the squash in their own mounds.

3 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) orn/bean (B) mounds are supposed to be apart, but in an x box, the spacing needs to be slightly condensed. Below we have kept the horizontal spaces, while condensing the diagonal edges to make not-quite equilateral triangles. quash () is planted in the center of each three corn/bean mounds, and on the outer edges. The gardeners just have to envision that the squash will sprawl and cover the entire ground. B B B B B B

4 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) Initial planting, direct sow only the corn. As mentioned earlier, corn needs a head start before the beans can be sown.

5 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) Initial planting, corn only. Here is a closer look at the spacing of the four corn seeds planted in the center of each mound. They should be spaced 6 across. This will allow enough room for four corn plants to grow and produce ears, but also a tight set of stalks for the beans to climb. 6

6 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) After the corn has grown >6 in height, the beans and squash can be planted. Both can be direct sown, but sometimes squash can be started ahead of time (in a greenhouse) and seedlings transplanted. Only use pole or runner beans, not bush beans. For squash, both summer or fall squash (bush or vines) will work. B B B B B B

7 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) The beans will be direct sown on the four corners of each mound center. Now there will be a square with 6 sides, with beans on the corners and corn in the center of each edge. Use only one bean seed per B. B B 6 B 6 B

8 The Three isters Planting Map (for an x bed) Each quash mound will have three seeds, spaced ~4 apart in equilateral triangles Now all three components are planted! ource: