How to Grow a Three Sisters Garden! (Corn, Beans & Squash)

[themushroominside]

This plant combination is ingenious for many reasons, Corn takes the longest to mature and is planted first to act as a trellis for the beans, the beans in turn fix nitrogen into the soil which can completely remove the need to use any nitrogenous fertilizers and keeps the soil healthy, the squash keeps the soil moist by preventing soil water evaporation and weeds from growing through their large leaves, which acts like a living mulch its growth being sustained by the nitrogen fixation of the beans.
Since all of the plants have different root systems they do not actively compete with one another for water as they would in a monoculture which means that even less water is needed to grow them.
Likewise, their different styles of leaves make it so that they do not compete for sunlight as the corn leaves grow taller than the beans do, while the squash leaves are closer to the ground.
The method also reduces the susceptibility of disease from spreading as being a polyculture allows for the plants to develop a form of bio network that bolsters disease resistance via their root systems and beneficial microbes in the soil.

[zacherybutter]

This video literally gave me everything I needed to know to grow with the Three Sisters method. And you didn’t even have to describe the process. Good job!

[LegalAlien]

It's fascinating that across the Atlantic Ocean people have been using this method for longer than I can remember. Corn originated in the Americas and when introduced to Southern Africa by the European settlers it helped feed all the people and somehow this system must have been introduced too. My husband remembers his Grandmother's garden and I remember seeing it in various communities and one can still find it being used by subsistence farmers. 😊

[russellmckay]

Just went through all of your videos. So much new info. Thank You Thank You Both !!!! 3/04/2023 :-) :-)

[deloresgutierrez]

I like the pill box idea. Mine are used to keep me on track for my meds though. I will be using my pill bottles for my seeds.

[HappyRunMe]

I’ve done this method this year and wow so far I’m ecstatic with the results! The plants are loving life and they’re so much easier to grow! Fantastic! My beans are producing already at 39 days. 😱

[iwanttobelieve]

True Love Seeds. I recognize that package. I’ve ordered from them too. Great rare seeds.

[grubnomics]

I found this channel today and boy o boy am I addicted. Watched every short and Im sad this is the 1st one.. or last one.. I havent been hooked at any other channel like I did at this.

[yoelbeche]

One thing i've learned about bean plants or nitrogen-fixers plants is that they don't actually fix nitrogen themselves but instead cooperates with rhizobium bacteria which has the capability of fixing atmospheric nitrogen(N2) into ammonium(NH4) which can be used by the plants. Some people say that in order for the bacterias to fix nitrogen in the soil for other plants nearby to benefit from it, you need cut them(nitrogen-fixers) and burry them into the soil in order for this process to work out.

[ashwinij]

U can use tender pumpkin leaves n make a dish wit stir frying onions n chilly .. it's very delicious.. in india v prepare it .. I saw u using only fruit.. tats y telling ..

[cass]

Wouldja hear that! It's one of my favorite musicians, In Love With A Ghost! Very highly recommended

[Terrinda]

can you successfully do this in container gardens?

[guacre]

My *non-expert* understanding of nitrogen-fixing legumes is that legumes don't actually feed other plants nitrogen directly. The nitrogen is released when the plant dies & is broken down by decomposers, so it does take a while before the benefits of a legume plant is added to the soil.

[bluebutterfly]

Plant pumpkin on the outside to avoid shading

[Pinkomy]

Wowowowow. I need to try this one day.

[GobbleTheRook]

This method is truly genius. Can you use the same technique with variations on the plants? Say, millet or sorghum instead of corn? Peas or maybe tomatoes instead of beans? Different squashes like zucchini or melons instead of pumpkin?

[randomguy]

Man. It's been years since I heard the background song.

[lauraburkholder]

Does it matter what squash or bean or corn variety you use?

[alinaluciadonath]

What is the bean verity called that you use?

[Joshua-kdzb]

Thats nice what does a corn sprout look like when it comes up out out of the ground