They do get crowded growing up corn plants so expect slightly lower yields than if you grew them in their own plot. Beans are self-pollinating so even only 1 plant will produce beans. You will want to give individual plants enough space to thrive and have enough of each type of crop to facilitate pollination. The main consideration is your space constraints. There are numerous configurations to Three Sisters Gardens. You don't want the large squash leaves to shade out young corn and bean seedlings before they have time to establish. Plant Sister Squash seeds 1 week later after the beans have emerged. When the beans are sending out tendrils to climb the corn will be tall enough to support them. Plant seeds for Sister Bean 2-3 weeks later, or at least when the corn is a few inches tall. Sister Corn should be planted first so that it can grow tall above the other crops. Planting the Three Sisters in the order of corn, beans, and squash will ensure that they will grow and mature together and will not grow at the expense of another Sister. Direct planting of seeds leads to stronger root systems that are more adequately able to take up water and nutrients, resulting in more vigorous and healthy plants. We recommend directly planting all of these types of seeds as they will fare better than transplants. Alternatively plant in mid-late July with the summer monsoon season and the corn will reach maturity when the temperatures drop a little and humidity rises. Therefore, plant before April 15 to ensure that the pollen released during the corn's tasseling period (30-70 days after planting depending upon variety) will occur before June/early July when it will be more likely to be sterile or infertile. Corn in particular does not tolerate high heat and low humidity during the period of tasseling. One major concern for the Southern Southwest is the hot, dry heat of the early summer. Check with your local planting calendar to determine the best time for your area. Plant seeds for the Three Sisters outside with the spring, summer, or monsoon planting periods. These crops are warm season plants and do not tolerate frost. Regardless of how they are planted, these three crops are some of the most important for Native American peoples of the Southwest in addition to other crops like tobacco, sunflowers, amaranth, and melons. In areas with adequate water the Sisters can be planted together in close proximity to get the companion planting benefits in the same cycle. In dry farmed areas like Hopi and portions of the Navajo Nation, the Sisters are planted in separate areas of fields with wide plant spacing to maximize limited water. In the Southwest, there are traditions of planting the Sisters together as well as in separate fields. The elevated mound assists with drainage and avoids water logging of the plant roots which is important in this region that receives abundant rainfall in the summer. All three types of seeds are planted together in the same mound in the Haudenasaunee planting method. Also known as the Iroquois, Haudenosaunee occupy the regions around the Great Lake in the Northeastern United States and Canada. The tradition of calling these crops the "Three Sisters" originated with the Haudenosaunee, pronounced Ho-deh-no-shaw-nee. These traits are less important today, but were important in the past which lead to their significance as the major cultivated foods. These three crops are also important because they can all be dried and used for food year round. Squash provides different vitamins and minerals than corn and beans. Corn provides carbohydrates and the dried beans are rich in protein and have amino acids absent from corn. A diet of corn, beans, and squash is complete and balanced. Or, call us at (877) 309-7333 for help.These three crops are also at the center of culinary traditions and complement one another as well. Please feel free to browse our selection and sign up for our newsletter to be notified when these products are available for next season! We often have similar items available, so please utilize our search or filters (on the left) to explore other options. The following items are either out of season or we've sold out of our inventory. We're sorry, but the following items are currently unavailable Wildflowers For Cut Flower Bouquets 131.Wildflowers For Attracting Pollinators 253.Bulk Wildflower Seeds - Mixes & Species 75.Wildflower Seed Collections and Combos 19.
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