Sebastian County Home & Garden
Your Three Sisters Planting Packet
Presented by the Crawford County Cooperative Extension Office
Native Americans followed many sophisticated agricultural practices. Among
the most widely known practice is the "three sisters" technique that was
practiced by eastern tribes. In this system, corn, beans and squash were planted
together in groups on land that had once been forest. After the land became
unproductive, the site was allowed to revert back to forest in order to restore
its fertility.
Modern agriculture is based on making efficient use of land by planting one
crop in rows over a large field and adding fertilizer and other inputs to
maintain fertility. This is called monoculture. Before the 20th century,
machinery and fertilizer were non-existent and a different system was needed to
raise crops. The Native Americans tackled this problem by using polyculture,
which involved raising more crops in a single place.
Planting a combination of corn, beans, and squash is a brilliant technique.
Corn is a versatile, easy-to-store crop, but it requires a lot of nitrogen
fertilizer. Beans convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into fertilizer that can
be used by the plant soil. Corn provides beans with the support they need for
their vining growth habit. The squash helps out both plants by providing shade
that blocks weeds and conserves soil moisture. The combination of corn, beans,
and squash also provides an excellent combination of nutrients.
Corn is the oldest sister and is planted first, usually in late May. In a
clear area, plant the corn seeds in the top of a mound about 10 inches high and
20 inches wide (with a flat top) in a circle at the center.
Corn (properly called maize) was bred in Central America from an obscure weed
thousands of years ago. Since maize is a man-made crop, it cannot disperse its
seeds or survive in the wild; it is entirely dependent on humans for its
existence. Maize is arguably the most impressive example of domestication of any
crop or animal species in history.
The second sister, beans, should be planted when the corn is about six inches
tall. Plant the bean seeds in a ring around the corn stalks.
The third sister is squash. The squash seeds should be planted on the edge of
the mound.
In an authentic three sisters planting, there would be five or six corn
seeds, and seven or eight seeds for both beans and squash. Since we’re on a
budget, there are fewer seeds in your packet than is ideal. This planting
technique will still work for you, but you will have to train the squash vines
to cover the mound by moving a couple vines by hand as they grow out.
In your packet you have the following varieties: (they are all
open-pollinated so you can save the seeds for next year)
1. "Peaches and Cream" sweet corn
2. "Rattlesnake" pole beans
3. "Black Beauty" zucchini squash (not very authentic, but still good
to eat)
You can find out more information about gardening and 4-H projects by
emailing us at crawford@uaex.edu or by
calling 474-5286.
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