Sebastian County 4-H
Your Three Sisters Planting Packet
Native Americans followed many sophisticated agricultural
practices. Among the most widely known is the “three sisters” technique
practiced by eastern tribes. In this system, corn, beans and squash were planted
together in groups in land that was once forest. After the land became
unproductive, the site was allowed to revert back to forest to have its
fertility restored.
Modern agriculture is based on the 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. As machinery and
fertilizer were non-existent before the 20th Century, a different system
was needed to raise crops. The Native Americans tackled this problem by using
polyculture: raising more than one crop in a single place.
The combination of corn, beans and squash is a brilliant one.
Corn provides a versatile, easy-to-store crop, but it requires a lot of nitrogen
fertilizer. The beans provide nitrogen to the planting by obtaining it from the
atmosphere, but they in turn need support for their vining growth habit, which
the corn provides. Finally, the squash helps out both plants by providing shade
to the ground that blocks weeds and conserves soil moisture. The combination of
corn, beans, and squash provides an excellent nutritional combination, too.
Corn is the oldest sister and is planted first, usually about
late May. In a clear area, plant the corn seeds in the top of a mound about 10”
high and 20” 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 6 inches tall. Plant this 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 5 or 6
corn seeds, and 7 or 8 of both beans and squash. Since we’re on a budget, there
are fewer in your packet than is ideal. It 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. ‘Trucker’s Favorite’ sweet corn (white)
2. ‘Rattlesnake’ pole beans
3. Spaghetti squash (not very authentic, but fun to
eat!)
You can find out more information about gardening and 4-H projects by
emailing us at sebasft@uaex.edu or by calling 484-7737.
Presented by the Sebastian County Cooperative Extension Office
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