Three Sisters Garden At The Lsem Sm

The Three Sisters Garden at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum 2009

What is a Three Sister’s Garden?

According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations. Growing a Three Sisters garden is a wonderful way to feel more connected to the history of this land, regardless of our ancestry.

Why did Native Americans choose these crops?

Corn, beans and squash were among the first important crops domesticated by ancient Mesoamerican societies. Corn was the primary crop, providing more calories or energy per acre than any other. According to Three Sisters legends corn must grow in community with other crops rather than on its own - it needs the beneficial company and aide of its companions.

Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb.

Beans fix nitrogen in the soil to

feed the corn and squash.

3. Squash vines become a living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thereby improving the overall crops’ chances of survival in dry years. Spiny squash plants also help discourage predators from approaching the corn and beans.

Week One

We have experienced a cooler and wetter than normal spring.

The Beginning April 27, 2008

Week Two

May

The Seeds have germinated and started growing.

Heirloom Dent Corn Squash Heirloom Pole Beans

Week Three

Insect Problems

Week Four

Pests gone-Sprayed with liquid Sevin

Wind blows down corn

Corn staked

Only 2 sunflowers come up

Pole beans taking off

Treat left side With EcoMulch Compost Tea

Pole Beans Taking Off

Fertilize right side with Cottonseed Meal

Pole Beans Recovering

Week Five

Corn, Beans, and Squash growing

Replant Sunflowers

More compost tea applied to left side

Week Six

First Week of June

Everything Growing

First Squash Flowers

End of June Hot and Dry

Week Seven

Everything growing

First tiny squash plants

Still only two pathetic sunflowers

Only two pathetic sunflowers

Week Eight

Pick first squash

Beautiful corn tassels

Ants farming aphids on some corn tassels

Spray aphids and ants with soapy water

Beautiful Corn Tassels

First Squash!! First Squash!!

Ants working Aphids on Corn

They were sprayed with soapy water!

Try one more time! Seed at home to transplant later in garden.

Week Nine

Baby Ears of corn and corn silks appear

More squash picked

Aphids and Ants back on corn tassels

Aphids and Ants Back

Visitors !

More Visitors!

Cindy Grogan at LSEM

Week 10

First week of July

Ant and aphid problem

Fertilize with organic time-released fertilizer

Corn ears growing

10-2-8

Short Beans

Week Eleven

Squash ripe

Corn ripening

Corn aphids and ants

Pole Beans growing

Squash

Week Eleven Lemon Queen Sunflowers

Transplant more Lemon Queen Sunflowers

Bug problems

Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis

Corn Aphids and Ants

Week Eleven Lemon Queen Sunflowers

Transplant more Lemon Queen Sunflowers

Week Twelve

Everything alive and growing

Baby Beans

“ Lemon Queen” sunflowers (looks a lot like “Mammoth”) peaking

Fresh Picked Squash

Baby Pole Beans

Sunflowers Used as a Trap Plant Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Homalodisca vitripennis

Sunflower transplants

Week Thirteen

Green striped cushaws growing

Sunflowers headed down

Green Striped Cushaw leaves

Week Fourteen

Large Sunflowers headed down

Beans twining up corn stalks

Ears of corn not full

Week 15

First week of August

Plants growing in heat and humidity

Large sunflowers headed downward and transplants slowly growing

Week Sixteen

Corn ears drying on stalks

Beans growing

Cushaw growing

Sunflower seeds drying on large plants

Young sunflowers making flowers

Week Seventeen

Squash borer problem

Corn drying on stalks

Young sunflowers growing

Week Twenty-One

Mid September-Glitz and Grits week

Corn drying

Beans twining

Next wave of sunflowers blooming

Cushaw still growing (thanks to Jane Hall treating the squash borer!)

Week Twenty Three

Cushaw still growing

Time to pick the corn

Cushaw still growing

Straight-neck squash done

Pole Beans Enjoying Rain and Cooler Weather

Corn!

Coming Full Cycle (Saving Seeds) By saving and replanting some of the seeds from their three sisters gardens, Native cultures brought the cycle of life full circle. Your may want to save some to replant or package and give to other gardeners. Below are some tips for gathering and preserving the seeds. Corn Leave several ears on the stalk until husks dry and turn brown. Remove and peel back the husks and hang them to dry, out of direct sun, for a month. Once they're dry, remove the individual kernels. Store them in an airtight container. (Note: If you save and replant seed from hybrid corn, the plants will not have their parents' good qualities.) Beans Leave several pods on a plant until they turn brown and brittle. Break open the pods and remove the seeds. Leave them on a flat surface or screen, out of direct sun, to air dry for a few days. Put them in an airtight, dark container protected from extreme heat and cold. Squash Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and rinse them with water in a colander. Follow the same instructions as listed for drying and storing beans.

Conclusions

The 3 Sisters Garden was successful in that I had corn, beans, and squash, but, our tribe would have starved if it depended on this crop for survival.