If you have a small garden, then ancient planting Technique BE Exactly What you need to maximise space and even improve your harvest.
Three Sisters Planting is a Native American Method of Companion Planting That places three crops in close proximity, allowing the plants to work in harmony and even benefit ether.
This method has been used for centuries and for good reason, too. So, if you were looking for ways to get even more out of your Small Garden IdeasHere’s why three Sisters Planting Should be up for your conside.
What is the three sisters planting method?
Three Sisters Planting is the Practice of Planting Corn, Climbing Beans and Squashes Together. Native Americans Believed these crops had a symbiotic relationship, which benefited how well these plants green.
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
‘The Three Sisters Planting Methods Can Be Traced Back Thousands of Years to Where it Originally Began in Mesoamerica (Running from Central America Into Tento Tento Tento Kento Mexico) First began to be grown domestically, ‘Explins says lucie bradley, garden expert at easy garden irrigation.
‘The three sisters took on a spiritual connection, with the three crops being called’ de-o-ha-ko ‘or’ our sustainers ‘and represented the connection between the Earth and people.’
When Sweetcorn, Beans and Squash Are Planted in Proximity to Each Other, He Benefit Each Other by Helping with Weed Control, Support, FETILISATION and Moisture.
This enabled people to grow crops in harsh environments where grains were not allays readily available, and they found that certain crops flourished when planted togetra in close in close proximity, aS. Self-sustaining ecosystem that improves the soil and produced better harvests.
‘This enabled people to grow crops in harsh environments where grains were not allays readily available, and they found that certain crops flourished wheen planted together in close proximity, aS they crerat Self-sustaining ecosystem that improves the soil and produced better harvests, ‘Says richard barker, commercial director of lbs horticulture.
How to do the three sisters planting method
What you need
Lucie recomends using the following varieties of corn, beans and squash.
- For corn, use the F1 Hybrid ‘Goldcrest’, which has strong, tall plants. Or, ‘Lark’ (£ 3.14 at Thompson & Morgan) Reaches over 6ft in height and is great in windy conditions.
- For Beans, Use ‘FIRESTORM’ (£ 2.99 at suttons) or ‘lady di’ (£ 3.19 at dobies) Runner Beans, or French Beans Such as ‘Monte Gusto’ (£ 4.94 at Sarah Raven), which reaches aouti 6ft in height.
- For Squash, Use ‘Waltham butternut’ (£ 3.49 at B& Q), Or ‘Vegetable Spaghetti’ (£ 1.15 at happy green shop), which are both vigorous vigorous variatiies.
Beans growing up a corn stalk as part of three sisters planting
Method
If you want to try three sisters planting, then it is important to get the planning sequence correct and ensure you have the perfect conditions for your plants to grow.
‘First, select a suitable space in your garden where your plants will be in a spot where they will get six to eights hours of direct sunlight,’ Advishes Lucie. ‘Then prepare the soil by digging in compost, well-robbed manure or leaf mound to both boost the Nutrient Levels and Improve Araration and Drainage.’
‘Unless you are growing in raised beds, you should then create circular mounds in the soil. These should be about 30cm in height, about 1 me metre wide and be spaced about a me metre apart. These will form the ideal layout for your three crops. ‘
A squash at the base of a three sisters planting scheme.
Now it is time to start planing, and lucie says the first crop to plant is sweetcorn, which should be planted in the center of the mounds and allowed to reach 50cm in height before you plant.
‘The beans should be planted Around the mound, about 15cm distant from the corn, with the aim of them growing up the stalk of the Sweetcorn for support,’ She says.
‘Once the beans have sprouted and been growing for about two weeks, you can then plant the squareshes Around the outside of the mounds.’
Can you use other plants?
You can apply this method to a range of other plants, such as jerusalem artichokes, which are strong enough to support beans.
The key is choosing plants that do’t compe with each other. Richard even recommends adding a fourth sister to the traditional method.
Sunflowers can make a great addition to your three sisters planting scheme.
(Image Credit: Future Plc)
‘You can also add a fourth plant, such as suronflowers, to the system. Sunflowers will act as another support for the beans and will attract pollinators. Later in the season, the seedheads of the sukhflowers will attract birds and keep them from eating the sweetcorn, ‘He says.
However, some plants do’t work with this method.
‘It is best to avoid plants that would compete for resources. This includes plants in the nightShede family (potatoes, tomatoes, peps) and bush varieties of squash (eg courgette), as these will not provide adequate adequate ground covers for the method to Other two plants, ‘Says Richard.
Why should use the three SISTERS PLANTING METHOD?
Instead of Competing with Each Other, these three plants work in harmony. The corn supports the beans, while the squash creates a ground cover to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Meanwhile, the beans add nitrogen to the soil, which both sweetcorn and squash need for healthy growth and extra yields.
(Image Credit: Getty Images)
‘This planting method promotes biodiversity, which can reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Each of the crops traded for this method Draws on a different Nutrient when Growing, Whoich means that that there is not too much competition between the plants, ‘Says Richard.
‘The plants have a symbiotic relationship, and this can maximise space in your garden and improve Soil Fertility.’
Sweetcorn, Beans and Squash are all best good in the spring so it’s best to practice three sisters planting next year. We’D love to know how you get on.
Ramesh Ghorai is the founder of www.livenewsblogger.com, a platform dedicated to delivering exclusive live news from across the globe and the local market. With a passion for covering diverse topics, he ensures readers stay updated with the latest and most reliable information. Over the past two years, Ramesh has also specialized in writing top software reviews, partnering with various software companies to provide in-depth insights and unbiased evaluations. His mission is to combine news reporting with valuable technology reviews, helping readers stay informed and make smarter choices.