CreatorMODE Meditations: Three Sistrs Garden

As BellaMosa.Art (BMA) embraces Native American culture, communities, food and eating well, meet three Sisters of hospitality that represent the most important crops; corn bean, and squash. When planted together, the Three Sisters, work together to help one another thrive and survive.

Utilizing corn, beans, and squash together in your garden draws upon centuries of Indigenous agricultural traditions and expertise. This post covers the benefits of three sisters planting and provides tips for when to plant, varieties that work well in planting together, and suggested layouts for your garden.

Begin with corn, then introduce beans 2-3 weeks later, once the corn reaches a few inches in height. Finally, plant squash a week after the beans have emerged. This planting sequence allows each crop to support one another without overshadowing.


Key spacing considerations:
-Corn requires a minimum of 10-20 plants for effective wind pollination.
-Beans are self-pollinating but may produce less in crowded conditions.
-Squash needs multiple plants to attract pollinators.
Unleash your creativity to devise the ideal layout for your garden, ensuring every plant has the necessary space to thrive.

When selecting corn varieties for planting, opt for tall types to allow climbing beans space without overcrowding.
Southwestern varieties like Tohono O'odham 60-day and Hopi Sweet mature quickly but are shorter, making them less suitable for beans.
Good corn options include Dia de San Juan, an all-purpose dent corn, and Flor del Rio, a tall popcorn variety yielding 2-4 ears per stalk.

Look for climbing beans, often referred to as pole beans, instead of bush beans. To prevent them from overshadowing the corn, it's best to select non-vigorous climbers and bushy-pole varieties. For climbing options, consider Tohono O'odham Vayos or Four Corners Gold. When it comes to squash, the best varieties to choose will depend on your available space. Lima, runner, and common beans flourish in this arrangement, while tepary beans should be avoided due to their distinct water requirements. Remember, corn and squash demand more water than tepary beans, rendering them incompatible.

Traditional winter squash varieties can grow vines up to 15 feet long, so they need plenty of space to sprawl. If space is limited, consider compact summer squash varieties suitable for raised bed gardens. Winter squash varieties like Magdalena Big Cheese or Tarahumara Pumpkin are ideal for larger areas, while summer squash varieties like Dark Star Zucchini or Yellow Crookneck squash are perfect for smaller plots.

In various cultures, other crops hold significant importance in traditional agriculture. For instance, in many indigenous cultures of the Southwest, tobacco is as sacred as the Three Sisters: Corn, Beans, and Squash. Sunflowers and amaranth are also considered part of this revered group. These plants provide shade for the Three Sisters during the hot afternoons, attract pollinators, and offer additional support for beans to climb.

The seeds and greens of amaranth contribute to a balanced diet. Other cucurbits, such as watermelon and gourds, can be grown in place of squash, as their sprawling vines similarly shade the ground. Depending on your preferences and what you enjoy growing, consider incorporating these additional crops alongside or instead of corn, beans, or squash.

Salsa, with its vibrant and tangy flavor, offers numerous health benefits thanks to its high levels of Vitamins A and C.
This modern-day condiment, typically made from tomatoes, onions, and jalapenos, is also a low-calorie option, with a typical serving of about half a cup containing only 36 calories.
While chips and salsa are a classic combination, there are many other delicious ways to incorporate fresh salsa into your diet.
It pairs wonderfully with fish dishes and serves as a healthy alternative to fatty dressings on salads.

Onions – Maturity: 90-110 days. Plant near tomatoes.
Garlic – Maturity 130-140 days. Dig up when leaves turn 1/3 brown.

Although bunching onions for this salsa garden layout, which you can grow 9 per square foot would be ideal. We are using large yellow parma onions that can be grown too, which you plant 1 per square foot.

Cilantro – Maturity: 55-70 days. Trim outer leaves when plant reaches about six inches high, but make sure to leave 2/3 of the stem closest to the ground to allow for regrowth.

Tomatoes – Maturity: 65-75 days. Tomatoes are ripe when they can be pulled easily from the stems. They can also ripen a little after picking—so if you anticipate extreme weather outside of usual temperatures (heat wave or cold snap) pick the fruits that are already a rich pink color and let them ripen inside.

Peppers – Maturity: 70-90 days (Sweet and Hot). Plant near onions. For hot peppers, pick when deep green/red and glossy. Sweet, bell-type peppers may also be picked when green, but will sweeten as they ripen into other colors (red, yellow, orange, purple).

Get ready to embark on an exciting gardening journey during this Monsoon season in West Southwest Texas! Stay tuned as we explore the germination process and dive into planting the Three Sisters Garden and Salsa. Follow along at BellaMosa.Art to witness the progress and learn from the trials and triumphs!

CreatorMODE Meditations: Three Sisters Garden
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