Three sisters are agricultural crops which include three important plants for human life. The three are corn, bean, and squash that you can plant them together and they would nurture each other naturally. Being the center of Native American agriculture and culinary traditions for centuries, here are the growing methods you should know.
Three Sisters Growing Method for Easy and Healthy Growth
Prepare the Garden Site
The first thing you need to do is find the right location to plant three sisters. Preparing the garden site is not only about the location. You also need to get ready with the soil test conducted, compost, and other materials. Build a 10 cm-high mound of soil and make sure it gets maximum sunlight.Plant Corn First
Among the three crops, corn should be the first to plant in the center of the mound. It is more recommended to grow corn in late May, especially when the ground has warmed. Corn seeds should be soaked for a maximum of 8 hours before you plant them.
After the mounds of soil are ready, place five to seven corn seeds 1-2 inches deep. The mounds of soil should also be 3-4 feet apart within and between the rows. You can cover again with soil after making sure you planted the seeds right.Plant the Beans
Second crop you can start to grow is beans, but you can do it after the corn is 15 cm tall. You may plant pole beans around the corn plants after removing weeds. Make other mounds of soil to get ready with the bean. Place four to five bean seeds evenly in each mound of soil you have prepared.Plant the Squash
Three sisters' growing method focuses on just one plant at a time. So, it is best not to plant all three together in one day. For squash, you can start planting the seeds a week after planting the beans. The squash seeds placement can be done around the young corn plants and beans.Water and Fertilize the Plants
If you plant pre soaked seeds, the plants should be watered frequently in the first weeks. After that, it will be fine as long as you water them each week. But, you might need to irrigate them just in case it does not rain at least an inch per week.
When it comes to fertilizing, using manure, compost, or commercial fertilizers is more recommended. Do not plant the three crops if you are not ready with the fertilizers. A decreased yield might happen as the result of inter-planting with no fertilizer as the addition.Time to Harvest
Even though you planted corn first, normally you would be ready to harvest the beans first. When the beans are tender, it is a sign that you can pick them. Meanwhile, you can harvest the corn after making sure they are completely ripe.
Look at the kernels by pulling back the husk of the corns to see if they are ripe. If the cornsilk color has turned into a dark brown, it is also a sign you can pick them. For the squash, wait until the vine is hard and brown and the skin is firm and glossy before harvesting.
Three sisters are better to plant in warm seasons because they won’t tolerate frost. After harvesting the crops, you can make soup with the three ingredients. You can even use them to decorate your house to celebrate Thanksgiving.