As spring approaches, we begin to look for ways to not only welcome the “Little Sprouts” into our garden plan, but also create an education opportunity as well.  Let’s explore how to best incorporate into our gardens more sustainable gardening practices no matter what the size through using the Three Sisters planting or “Milpa.”  The Three Sisters planting creates a way that three crops - corn, beans and squash compliment and work together to create a beautiful harvest.

The Three Sisters planting was first practiced by Indigenous peoples who learned that three crops - corn, beans and squash, planted together, help the other grows stronger and healthier.  Each crop is an asset to the others and in the end provides what is needed to grow a healthy and sustainable garden.  

Corn, beans and squash are each planted separately at various times and provide the following benefit for the betterment of the whole.  The corn stalk provides the stability or strength for the other crops to grow upon and is planted first.  The strong and tall cornstalk can be seen as a support for the beans to grow upon.  Beans are planted second in the rotation.  The beans, when growing, provide the needed natural nitrogen to help all of the plants grow healthy. And they provide a crop high in protein when eaten.  Finally, squash is planted last; but squash is important in that it provides a canopy on the ground as it grows to prevent weeds from growing.  It also keeps the ground underneath cooler from the hot sun which prevents the ground from drying out so quickly.  The Three Sisters planting is seen as sustainable in that it does not need a lot of space to produce a bountiful harvest and outside items are not needed or can be reduced, such as a structure, fertilizer, watering and weeding.

How to Plant:

Find a suitable site that receives full sun for 6-8 hours.  Once a site has been located, mound soil 4-5 inches high.  Within this mound, plant 4 corn seeds approximately 6 inches apart.  Since we want the pole beans to grow up the corn stalk, please plant beans seeds when the corn stalk is 4-6 inches tall.  The pole bean seeds (bush beans will not work - pole beans or a climbing variety are needed) can be sown at the bottom of the mound about 3-4 inches from the corn.  Once the bean seeds have begun to grow, place two squash seeds approximately 24 inches from the center of the mound where the corn was planted.  It is recommended that waiting about a week after the beans have emerged will ensure that the beans become established and begin to climb the corn stalk before the squash gets too big and shades off the beans.  Squash should also be encouraged to trail out and not overcrowd the beans.  

Over the summer watch the three crops provide what is needed to the other two as a sustainable harvest is created.  Enjoy sharing even more with your Little Sprouts from planting to harvest through using the Three Sisters planting method.

Items Needed:

• Corn (tall variety) Seeds

• Pole Bean Seeds

• Squash Seeds (preferably winter squash)

• Trowel

• Watering Can (Water)

Planting a Three Sisters grouping with your little “growing sprouts” is easy and they will delight in watching and caring for the three plants as they grow. What a fun way to learn how plants can help each other thrive in nature.

Photo Credit: www.flickr.com (1), www.pexels.com (2,3,4), www.wikimedia.commons (5)