Planting Corn, Squash and Beans Using The Three Sisters Method

[@glennmiller8880]

I agree with you about the three sisters, although I have come up with a method of planting that ensures that you never have to water or fertilize throughout the growing season. Take four straw bales placed on their side and formed into a square interlocked. This will allow you a square in the center that you fill with good rich compost right to the top of the bales. You then plant your corn in the center of the square, once you see the corn emerge, you lpant the beans around the corn, then at the corners you plant the squash. The bales will absorb the rain, thereby allowing water for the plants, while the squash cascades over the bales shading them. The beans climb the corn, and the decomposing straw bales give nitrogen for the corn. Just another way to the same ends.Thank you

[@chaznonya4]

This is much closer to how I was taught, now when you place your four bales (or mound of hay) throw in a fish head then pile with compost. Talk about a nutrient boost. My grandfather liked to fish and always wrapped and froze the heads just for planting time.

[@littlejoe9381]

Chaz Nonya : Thank you for this information.

[@littlejoe9381]

Glenn Miller : Thank you.

[@tesha199]

Some gems in this comment and the one from Chaz. Let's give it a boost for more folks to see this.

[@wanderingcalamity360]

Solid advice. Thanks for this.

[@Imagon100]

I never thought I would be learning from the Bloods on how to grow crops.

[@andreagayle1972]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@bangbang3769]

Bout to make the best suuwoop with these crops

[@stringwhore]

Gotta hit em with the woo

[@MonarchPoolPlaster]

Brops, not crops.

[@rakelya-shalongo7807]

This is the traditional method the Ovawambo people from Namibia use to plant their crops. And its a method that's been used by our forefathers and their forefathers. We also add groundnuts, sorghum and millet in the mix. Its great learning the science behind their methods.

[@MrGundy-tu8ry]

What kind of traditional crops do you guys plant?

[@danakarloz5845]

That’s awesome! I’m Native American and I always knew that these traditional methods were vastly spread around the world ☺️ it’s great to learn about other people and cultures 🙏

[@MrGundy-tu8ry]

@@danakarloz5845 who's your tribe? I'm ojibwe

[@danakarloz5845]

Mr. Gundy tsalagi!

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

They didn’t have corn in Namibia until white people came to the America’s. Corn and squash were native to the americas as well as potatoes.

[@mandylavida]

I have now organized my growing areas to be planted with 3 sisters PLUS jerusalem artichokes as a 4th, and maybe a couple of cousins. I loved this. It made me feel happy.

[@thefloweroflove2709]

THIS IS A TRADITIONAL FARMING METHOD IN SOUTH AFRICA. MY TSWANA GRANDPARENTS USED THIS METHOD OF FARMING AND ITS BEEN HANDED DOWN FROM ANCIENT GENERATIONS IN AFRICA, Love seeing this, my childhood food crops in one plate. 👌🏾

[@noahramirez8501]

No, this method is originally from the indigenous peoples of the americas. There was no corn and squash in Africa. The only reason there is corn is because of colonization. This farming method is native to the Americas.

[@pthomasgarcia]

This brings a smile to my face.

[@mbassett100]

Love this! But, one tip... in my experience, you can't use a "combination" of different corn plants, or they will cross pollinate, and you will end up with some strange corn cobs!

[@mortyrickerson6322]

You mean monocrop to not allow genetic variation * 😀

[@Uncephalized]

​@@mortyrickerson6322 yes, corn hybridizes readily, so if you want a specific variety to breed true, you have to keep the patches separate. If you like inedible, useless corn, by all means interplant them. 3 sisters is by definition not monocropping.

[@guacre2675]

​@Uncephalized It's not exactly a monoculture, but you're still breeding weaker, more-vulnerable-to-disease maize plants in the long term. Also, why do say "inedible, useless" corn? Do you know what field corn is?

[@mrcmoes]

​​@@guacre2675ou can easily turn your sweet corn into cow corn, or make it so your popcorn wont pop, maise flour not having the right consistency etc by planting too close. Even in the wild they will grow in patches of the same variety. Putting different strains right next to each other is somewhat unnatural. Especialy if said varietyies are from vastly different areas, I am growing corn from the east coast of canada and some from the south west usa. They are very different. As for "weakening the strain" I generaly do selective harvesting to make sure my heilooms are both naturalized well and strong healthy genetics.

[@Vora_Vixen]

I though it only made it where you can't plant seeds as the next crop would be effected but your saying it effects the current crop? D:

[@samgraham6355]

I am a descendant of chief Massasoit. My wife is a descendant of the pilgrims just used your video to explain the three sisters to her.

[@moirbasso7051]

This is the first explanation that was clear, concise, and visually clarifying as to EXACTLY how to do this.... which just happens to be a very 'Western/European' way of teaching, TYVM. "So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you, for all things are Christ's." I Cor. 3:21-22

[@joelegrand5903]

I know a gardener who use nasturtium around the edge of the 3 sisters as a fourth sister, put the flowers & tender leaves in salads & pickled the tenger seed pods, as poor man capers.

[@HardCoreHanSolo]

Sounds super smart. Move ground cover for less weeds. Nasturtiums are supposed to help keep squash bugs away from the squash. I'm doing that method this year

[@joanies6778]

@@HardCoreHanSolo Cool. I didn't know this and have several Nasturtium I need to transplant. Thanks!

[@briananderson2219]

I have always heard of the three sisters, and have always wanted to know how this works. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, this will certainly help my spring planting, I am rather excited now armed with this knowledge. Thank you again

[@AnythingArtist]

Love this...been wanting to try it for years and finally have land to do so now!

[@donaldmatthies6026]

Just curious as to how this actually turned out for you? I to have the land now and have been preparing the garden sure for almost two years.

[@donaldmatthies6026]

Garden site*

[@dgerdi]

Shelly Lanette all the best for you. I still have to wait a little for my land.

[@IndigenousPathways]

Excellent tutorial for a novice gardener like myself. Thank you for sharing!

[@bonzaisubber8535]

I love this video, but it needs to be noted that this method has been practiced for millennia, not centuries. Mesoamericans developed the strategy first, not unnecessarily as beans, squash, and maize maize originated there, and slowly moved north via trade and human expansion.

[@dirtlegchaser2424]

i mean a millennia is a whole bunch of centuries no?

[@ripsumrall8018]

@@dirtlegchaser2424 It does seem a quibble no? But using millennia gives a better sense of the time.

[@sabin97]

@@ripsumrall8018 exactly. an hour is just 3600 seconds. but saying "i have been here for hours" conveys better the amount of time than "i have been here for seconds", even thought seconds is technically correct....

[@lond2835]

It's not a history lesson. Go plant a garden.

[@dirtlegchaser2424]

@@sabin97 so intelligent

[@anthonyomeara7516]

Companion gardening at its best in organic for life! Excellent video thank you

[@FairyFrequency]

Greetings from Missouri! Fantastic three sisters tutorial. Will be implementing this method in our garden this year.

[@halbertking2683]

The book " 1491 " shows a picture in the early 1900s of western Massachussetts . There was a field that still had corn mounds .

[@liaminnis2784]

Good tips for formations and timings of planting the sisters. Excellent video, thank you!

[@msmilby199]

@edmundo oliver ooh, maybe it's REALLY 10,005 years ago. LoL Not from you Sir, but from SO MANY in the comments section all I see are not picking complaints. Who CARES if it's centuries, millennia, or last year on granny's farm ? This woman is trying to teach something to you that you may not have known. If you don't agree then GO MAKE YOUR OWN video. She's not a telling you she's a PhD of history/archeology! She's simply telling you the way a tried and true method of gardening worked long ago. I've never seen such pettiness in all my life. Every one of you hating out there need to get a job or a life. To the woman who made the video, THANK YOU for the informative gardening lesson. I had not heard of these things and tend to believe our ancestors knew what they were doing or none of us would be here. So, thanks for taking the time to educate all who came here to learn. Have a great day.

[@SilasCochran-zq5de]

Very nice video I learned a lot I was raised around corn my family ran fields

[@nicholasnapier2684]

Don't matter who taught this first is if we leave it behind for the Next Generation to learn this is the first for all who come next....

[@dmacisaac9382]

I've got two 3 Sisters gardens , one with flint corn and the other has peaches and cream corn in it plus sunflowers, pumpkins and butternut squash plus green and yellow pole beans and adzuki beans

[@joshuavazquez5534]

Sounds beautiful

[@shawndoctiki]

Thank you i hope the best for you and your loved ones in these times we are in

[@denisefoster01df]

I am from the uk and I am going to try this method this season, corn just coming up and then when big enough I will do as you have do, my last frost is in the middle of May , not long now 😂

[@jlfoodforest]

Best explanation EVER! Thank you ❤️

[@tommymcweedface229]

Thanks. Showing the granddaughter the old ways best I can. She can't wait for her CDIB card.

[@HFTLH]

I'll be trying this method out this year to grow corn. The main reason I became interested, is after noticing last year that the prickly pumpkin vines on the outside border of my garden stopped the deer from coming in and eating my plants. I will also be trying out a traditional appalachian pole bean variety called "Greasy Grits."

[@chaznonya4]

We used to plant with all four sisters at the edge of the garden and other veggies mound together well too. Ours was just a bit different, we started with a fish head.

[@AFMR0420]

My mom just mentioned the fish!

[@moosieh1]

@@AFMR0420 is the fishead fertilizer? Do you add one to each mound?

[@chaznonya4]

@@AFMR0420 lol, it was recycling. After a fishing trip and they had eaten the fish they wrapped the heads and saved them for planting.

[@janareed1782]

Trying this at my garden this year. So far corn is up 😊

[@Ojb_1959]

I may try this but my corn I just planted is in 8, 20’ double rows. I’ll plant some pink eye purple hull peas in a couple weeks then my zucchini squash after it sprouts good. 👨‍🌾🤞🏼

[@gregcanning8081]

Isn’t it wonderful how corn, and other native foods to northern and southern Aboriginal people of the Americas, have become so important around the world. Interesting how other native people from Namibia had similar planting techniques for their traditional foods as well. We are all connected.

[@angelarai1]

Hi from South Wales uk. I’m going to try three sisters this year they are ready to go in yeee thanks for sharing. New friend here. Pop by and say hi thanks stay safe and god bless. Ange and the feathered ones x

[@goldhunter06]

I saw this technique in Mexico, corn and beans and it works

[@miftahultanipujasuma7382]

greetings and success of farmers from South Sumatra Indonesia. 🇲🇨🇲🇨 May the farmers' crops be bountiful and the farmers will be blessed, will have an abundant age and health amen🤲🤲👩‍🌾👩‍🌾👩‍🌾👩‍🌾

[@Ace-1525]

I have only a small garden at my apartment, and have been wondering for years if there was a planting method where I could combine some of my veggies into a smaller section of the plot. Thank you for the tips; I can't wait to try this come spring!

[@hemana3859]

Amazing. Thank you from NZ. Gonna do it myself this spring=Sept here.

[@isailugo7783]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏

[@Schnitz13]

"This is a technique that has used for centuries." You mean millennia! Still a great video!

[@johnnyarpa]

@TCB Scientists believe people living in central Mexico developed corn at least 7000 years ago. It was started from a wild grass called teosinte. Teosinte looked very different from our corn today. The kernels were small and were not placed close together like kernels on the husked ear of modern corn

[@johnnyarpa]

@TCB all scientists are saying 7,000 years I'm sure this technique's been for thousands and thousands of years not centuries

[@karveeranivasa9012]

They say this technique was practiced by Africans in their farming.

[@julianfrederick9082]

No, centuries

[@muthrfuqrjonz3530]

Millennia?? Are you kidding me? Native Americans are Asians first of all and humanoids didn’t arrive to the Americas until 13,000 years ago dickhead. Stop being an arrogant twat and listen you may learn something new.

[@therealericjackdaniels]

thank you so much for doing this video and sharing it

[@audraolsen725]

this is great for my school work

[@sabarca714]

Fascinating.

[@foxmulder7616]

You can plant up to 64 stalks in a 4'x4' square too, you can pack them in pretty tight, then the tassels are directly above the silks dropping pollen too.

[@mattjohnson9727]

Do you just plant them in an 8x8 grid so each corn plant is 6" apart? How is there space for everything else? I'm looking to maximize my yields

[@camillewalker4484]

Very helpful video- about how many bean plants should be in each mound?

[@andrewjohnson6716]

Great stuff, thanks for sharing. I’ve bookmarked this and set an alarm for late April.

[@moomoo3031]

Next year for sure, too late now and we have a short growing season up here in northern NM, where its Never 55 at night in the summer, hahaa. beautiful video and garden! waay to go kids!

[@micahbarror842]

Really?

[@ananda_miaoyin]

I am going to try this on my property. We are high in the Sierras, growing is not easy here. Lots of acid trees. Snow possible in June and September. Hot and dry in the summer.

[@diboakale3461]

We've been doing this in my country. We plant corn,beans, huckleberry "njama njama " or other vegetables

[@moosieh1]

Which country?

[@TOMMYBITESHOMESTEAD]

I love this idea, I’m about to transplant my corn and I have squash transplants but okra seeds that I want to plant together. Is that okay

[@jennk7987]

You shouldn’t transplant corn.

[@TOMMYBITESHOMESTEAD]

You are right cause they did not do as great as the ones I planted directly. Thank you, gardening is trial and error sometimes

[@jennk7987]

TommyBites Homestead yes! My first year and I didn’t plant enough corn so they didn’t pollinate very well. I got one corn lol At least it’s a fun trial and error. Happy Gardening! 🤗

[@kingk221]

Can thank the Mesoamericans and Native Americans for this lol

[@Gina-yy5fe]

@johnnyarpa, she mentions “Three sisters, “ that’s a nod to native Americans

[@vancouverpoacher]

I'm curious how sowing White privilege deeply in, then cross-pollinating with some cultural appropriation factors into the explosive growth of this video?

[@JMMELGRATTI]

Sjw are offended 😂

[@53K5HUN-8]

@@vancouverpoacher @johnnyarpa Maybe try watching past 1:22 & you'll find exactly what you're looking for.

[@colsoul444]

They literally credit the Native Americans in the video. Maybe you should watch it.

[@chriscahill1005]

This is the first time I have heard about the fourth sister

[@bamboozle2720]

Chris Cahill they forgot to mention sister tobacco too.

[@tommymcweedface229]

Ok, you're the latest to post. What does she mean by innoculant? Sorry if the spelling is wrong. Thanks for any help!

[@chriscahill1005]

tommy Mc Weedface just looked it up www.gardensalive.com/product/should-you-inoculate-your-peas--beans

[@sullyhubbard7159]

Yeah, she's a sister from another mister so you don't hear much about her

[@user-rx2ur5el9p]

Amaranth makes a great 5th sister! It grows very well with corn.

[@AAVVVAAADDAAAKAAADAVRAAA]

More people need to use banana, orange, lemon, pineapple, watermen's, squash, and other rinds or peels to use as organic compost along with different pollen plants around so they can get pollenated

[@kistuszek]

How well does each grouping method stand up to pest pressure and plant diseases. I mean the better nutrient availability is great, and the less weed pressure. But Stinkbugs love beans and corn alike and a denser foliage results in more fungus usually. Can you give reading recommendation on these methods?

[@linejumper8204]

Worked for the Indians in Canada for thousands of years.

[@joshuavazquez5534]

Use your brain when gardening. If your in a more warm and humid climate you want to space things out more

[@ashyfeathers]

There are flowers and herbs that deter bugs and the like, also some that bring pollinators. Marigolds would probably be a good bet

[@SAMMIsLIFE]

Gonna try this next year, i bought all the seeds this year but waited too long to plant them 😣

[@tironci06]

Super helpful - thanks for sharing!

[@cadleo]

Really well made video

[@daronoch5779]

Dont plant different corn species nearby eachother, this Will result in crosspollination and this in turn Will make the corn have very little corn

[@eduardomurillo7637]

Thanks for that info

[@dacebruz2626]

Yes I thought it was odd that she said to mix and match if u want.

[@liquidgold2735]

That only matters if you plant the corn kernals afterwards, not the seeds you already planted.

[@byrontuttle3545]

@@liquidgold2735 These wont understand and besides this method will grow almost corn because corn is wind pollinated and needs to be planted in blocks a minimum of a 12 by 12 foot square

[@liquidgold2735]

@@byrontuttle3545 weird, my 4x4 squares produce very well every year

[@critterjon4061]

I don’t know if she mentioned this but if you’re growing more then one hill you need to grow dent or popcorn and dry beans not sweet corn and green beans because once the squash plants take over it is almost impossible to get to the corn and bean plants without crushing the squash vines

[@Negri1124]

Thxs for sharing. I am going to try this method of planting in my garden. 😊

[@hollywertz8213]

thanks. that was really useful. great video.

[@shannonh5107]

I live in southeast Texas, zone 9a. Can I do this in August?

[@alexandermonzon8165]

Gangstah Gotta take it way back. Gonna put this in practice well at least Start I already have 8 Seeds Of Sweet Bantam Corn all I need is the Pole Bean seeds I have different strains of squash seeds

[@robertmatthews8028]

Does planting Red Amaranth in a cluster (3:05) produce more/better than a larger solo plant? Do you ever "top" the Amaranth and get an early leaf harvest to eat, if so, when?? I haven't really figured out how to best utilize it other than Microgreen seeds.

[@crossing3790]

thanks for your teachings.

[@seankennedy1377]

This method is great for the soil and the crop yield is larger than corporate farming, which in time, kills the soil.

[@lordgarion514]

Better for soil yes. But most definitely not larger yields. The corn is planted several feet apart. That's about 40 or so corn plants in the same amount of space. Also there's literally not enough land in America to grow enough food to feed the country using this method.

[@jackgoldman1]

Great job. Thanks.

[@noahriding5780]

You said NOT to use bush beans w the 3 sisters method, and only use pole beans. Is that because it won't work with bush beans? And I'm curious what other substitutions can be made? Like example; areas that grow squash well often can grow pumpkins well also. And they seem similar in many growing aspects. So I'm curious if Pumpkins can be fully substituted for squash with this method? And if that's true, then maybe other things can also? And when you plant the 3 sisters together, your video is the only 1 I know of that actually had a diagram explaining how close and how far to put them away from each other (such as @1:23). Is it allowable to deviate on the distance between them somewhat? Or put them together or how much can you vary? Thank you.

[@oneup1098]

Great technique usefull anywhere

[@idoriesenberg5297]

thanks for the great video, how many beans per corn? 4 or 1?

[@balasmj]

I've got 3 sisters They topple each other, with envy Wish they were plants 😕😕

[@j.m.r.f6286]

Thank you, gracia's...

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Not really into annuals but I might actually give this a shot

[@michelvansteenberge571]

C'est une ancienne méthode basée sur le lien de 3 pantes qui grandissent en symbiose . Ici aussi en Europe nous avions de méthodes similaires

[@Drew_Hurst]

Great method and video Thanks

[@missdigioia]

So I can do pumpkin instead of squash or isit the same thing ? And we love calaloo in Jamaica corn my fav and beans are good I'm set....

[@taildown]

Pumpkin is squash, so yes you can.

[@missdigioia]

@@taildown thanks

[@taildown]

One problem with using pumpkin is that many varieties grow huge, long vines with broad prickly leaves. If you like pumpkin you might try Hubbard squash. They are a more compact manageable plant and can be used as a pumpkin substitute in pies and other dishes. They store quite well too

[@missdigioia]

@@taildown thank you so much

[@taildown]

You are welcome! Suggest you look around for some other gardeners in your specific area. What works for me, or for anybody really, can be quite dependent on location.

[@WildPrimitiveSkills]

Thanks so much

[@Gina-yy5fe]

I heard not to mix corn types as you suggest, because they cross pollinate and change . Mixing Seed corn w sweet corn for example.

[@ajaydeshpande5568]

Great video! just a question- i wanted to try this in my small farm- 16000 sq ft. where i will plant corn as major crop, for that is there a model which can be implemented while planting sweat corn in a row? Thank you.

[@ajaydeshpande5568]

GrowOrganic Peaceful Valley Thank you very much! I shall do that..i was just thinking that when i plant corn in a row then where will i plant beans and squash! Thank you very much for your help. I am also checking the link you sent ☺

[@ajaydeshpande5568]

GrowOrganic Peaceful Valley awesome ☺!!! You are very supportive! I am grateful to you. This link seems perfect with diagrams too! Many thanks for sharing it!

[@caitzs]

@@ajaydeshpande5568 I've seen corn and pole beans grown together in rows on small farms in Guatemala. I suppose you could alternate corn/bean rows with squash rows.

[@ajaydeshpande5568]

@@caitzs Thank you :) okay..i will try that sure!!!

[@californiagardeningmom3441]

Love it! I'm gonna try!

[@desertflower9557]

So, the beans are situated close by the corn stalk to assure them grabbing on?

[@augustinekopa6560]

Love this thank you so much.

[@Maya-u7f8k]

if you only put 4 stalks of corn per mound, how many mounds do you need to have minimum in order to grow corn? Asking since Im trying to grow in an urban backyard.

[@saramccormack8863]

Question, I have a 2 foot by 17 foot space I can grow these, how would you recommend I go about it?

[@korcommander]

I wonder if you could replace the squash with something like sweet potato. It would serve the same purpose as squash but would be more calorically dense

[@Gunge-vq2ik]

Very informative thank you.

[@connorthomas2667]

The best way to plant things is together cause that’s they at they were in nature

[@tilmonhensley443]

Good Video.

[@8dreamersfarm]

Any tips for squash bugs without pesticides?

[@BunnaySango]

Could I theoretically replace the beans with peas? I dont care for beans but would like to try this method.

[@t.j.payeur5331]

I did this one time only. The night before I was going to pick my corn the bandit raccoons raided my beautiful patch and broke down every single cornstalk, ruining my beans and squash, peeled every ear of corn and took one bite of it and then moved on. The little pirates hit every garden in the neighborhood that year. I haven't planted corn since...

[@LetsProblemSolve]

Can you use pumpkin,like sugar pie?

[@alpineflauge909]

thank you

[@yeetbomb2015]

Can you plant melons/ cucumbers instead of squash / pumpkin?

[@TheKingGoesFirst]

I have a couple plots in a community garden. Is the mound necessary?

[@scottjenkins4613]

with such a small amount of corn, and so far apart, how does the corn pollinate?

[@AlternicityBlogspot]

You can pollinate by hand, or so I have heard on yt, I'll be trying it for the first time this year.

[@joshualawson7604]

@@AlternicityBlogspot How did it turn out?

[@AlternicityBlogspot]

@@joshualawson7604 It grew great.

[@AlternicityBlogspot]

Also had some beans growing up them, gotta work on the best timing of that. Pumpkin vines along ground made up the three sisters, it looked good, rewarding.

[@wjrwit9824]

We do that in my country.

[@billholt2010]

Very good presentation. Nice knees, too! 😆 😝

[@eastsidemuu]

Can you use cucumber instead of squash, sence they are in the same family?. (Not a big squash fan)

[@missdigioia]

Yes and or pumpkin

[@nrm3247]

Probably watermelon and cantaloupe as well

[@adolfpanzerbjorn8308]

@@missdigioia pumpkin is a squash

[@missdigioia]

@@adolfpanzerbjorn8308 no it's in the same family, very very similar. Grows the same way, check out some videos here on you tube

[@adolfpanzerbjorn8308]

@@missdigioia actually it's pretty much just a matter of semantics. pumpkin was bred from the same ancestor as pretty much all other winter squash and it can be treated the same in every way, the only reason we differentiate is because pumpkin specifically has an impact on our culture, ie Halloween, thanksgiving, fall decoration.

[@hfactor6429]

Awesome thanks

[@jasonmcgarry4383]

Can you substitute pumpkins for squash?

[@heinrichheine6137]

I was going to try this, but she got to 2:17 and said I could only start it when nighttime temps reach 55, but no later than June first. That’s going to be hard since it was 40 last night May 31st, and if I plant corn today, but then have to wait until it’s knee high to plant the other sisters, I won’t get them in until July 4th around here.

[@joshuavazquez5534]

If you live in America you have enough time for at least one crop

[@chrisrodriguez3053]

I live in Texas, so we don’t get 55° nights until like November