Understanding three sisters planting

Tetters

Tetters

Well-known member
Location
Kent UK
Hardiness zone
9a
I know that planting different vegetables together can have beneficial results, but haven't really bothered to educate myself about this system. In view of the shocking yield we managed in the veggie garden, which without Zigs using perseverance and bloody mindedness would have resulted totally useless, my winter planning head made me wonder about this system.
This was, of course ''The Year of the Slug''
Maybe some planning would be advantageous :unsure:
 
I did the three sisters last year. It was my first year growing corn on this property so I planted in a square foot 4 corn seeds. I did leave a foot gap before planting the next square foot. Once the corn was up about a foot I put a bean seed a few inches outside each corn plant. Then the squash went in the gaps. I only planted 4 squash.

The only issue I had was that my corn wasn't tall enough so the beans cascaded down to the ground, making them harder to pick, but my yield was very good for the beans and the corn. Vine borers still got my squash, though.

The system works well, I think.
 
Does it only work for these three veggies then, and how does it work? Can different veggies work too?
As an example, what could I put next to cabbages to deter the ruddy white butterflies and slugs?
 
Tetters said:
Does it only work for these three veggies then, and how does it work? Can different veggies work too?
As an example, what could I put next to cabbages to deter the ruddy white butterflies and slugs?
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As far as I know it only works for corn, a legume and a squash because the legume gives off nitrogen that the corn uses, the corn provides support for the legume and the squash keeps the ground shaded to help retain water.
The natives thought it up and I don't think they grew cabbage!!😂
 
Tetters said:
Does it only work for these three veggies then, and how does it work? Can different veggies work too?
As an example, what could I put next to cabbages to deter the ruddy white butterflies and slugs?
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This was started by the Natives. They would plant Corn then go back and plant Winter Squash. Then go back in the Fall and Harvest .

They would keep stuff through the Winter.

big rockpile
 
big rockpile said:
This was started by the Natives. They would plant Corn then go back and plant Winter Squash. Then go back in the Fall and Harvest .

They would keep stuff through the Winter.

big rockpile
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Yea, but what two other things can I plant with cabbages, to keep the white butterflies away? Does the three sisters apply in that case, or does it render the poor cabbages as only kids with no siblings 🥹
 
Tetters said:
Yea, but what two other things can I plant with cabbages, to keep the white butterflies away? Does the three sisters apply in that case, or does it render the poor cabbages as only kids with no siblings 🥹
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Won't work with 3 sisters.

I've tried Marigolds, Basil and Onions around Cabbage. Didn't help I resorted to Captain Jacks Dead Bug. Worked great.

big rockpile
 
Anniekay said:
As far as I know it only works for corn, a legume and a squash because the legume gives off nitrogen that the corn uses,
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I have seen this said a lot, but I don't really believe it. Sure the legumes fix nitrogen, but I reckon that is for their own use, why would they give it off into the soil? I always take the plant off at soil level, leave the roots in the soil, and compost the plants. I reckon that adds nitrogen, you can see the lump where the bacteria that do the fixing are just below soil level. From what I could tell from reading about it the Indians used to grow a large area without rotating their crops, so presumably the nitrogen would fertilise the next years' crops.
 
olly-buckle said:
I have seen this said a lot, but I don't really believe it. Sure the legumes fix nitrogen, but I reckon that is for their own use, why would they give it off into the soil? I always take the plant off at soil level, leave the roots in the soil, and compost the plants. I reckon that adds nitrogen, you can see the lump where the bacteria that do the fixing are just below soil level. From what I could tell from reading about it the Indians used to grow a large area without rotating their crops, so presumably the nitrogen would fertilise the next years' crops.
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The natives didn't stay all year in the same place and they would burn off the underbrush in the woods, that makes it easier to spot deer they need to hunt. So, the burning of the scrub fertilized the soil and the method does work symbiotically. Try it, you'll see.
 
big rockpile said:
Won't work with 3 sisters.

I've tried Marigolds, Basil and Onions around Cabbage. Didn't help I resorted to Captain Jacks Dead Bug. Worked great.

big rockpile
Click to expand...
Now look 'ere Rocky the Great, it's no good talking in riddles, what in heaven's name is Jacks dead bug? mm? I am a simple English person - you need to keep it easy to understand ;)

Olly, -interesting thinking :unsure: Annie, I have seen this myself when living in the bush in Oz. Again, it's usually what the natives do that is worth taking most notice of. This method of re-habitation has been seen to work perfectly there as well.
 
Tetters said:
Now look 'ere Rocky the Great, it's no good talking in riddles, what in heaven's name is Jacks dead bug? mm? I am a simple English person - you need to keep it easy to understand ;)

Olly, -interesting thinking :unsure: Annie, I have seen this myself when living in the bush in Oz. Again, it's usually what the natives do that is worth taking most notice of. This method of re-habitation has been seen to work perfectly there as well.
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It's a brand name basically they make safer soap and Bt and the like.
 
Tetters said:
Annie, I have seen this myself when living in the bush in Oz. Again, it's usually what the natives do that is worth taking most notice of. This method of re-habitation has been seen to work perfectly there as well
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I remember a tv prog. that had people chucking incendiary devices out of a plane in N. Australia. The natives who normally burned the undergrowth to drive animals had gone to live in a settlement and the growth was getting to be enough that if it caught fire it would light the larger trees and destroy everything. Men had lived there long enough doing the same things they had become part of the eco system and when they stopped it fell apart, so they had to be replaced.
 
1735067614251.webp I have witnessed the aftermath of Australian bush fires many times, and it has always fascinated me how well the native trees continue - seemingly coming back from the dead. In quite a few cases, they really do need fire to germinate the seeds, but it's almost spooky to see growth (as in the picture) very quickly appear when the trees look as if they are gone for ever.
 
Tetters said:
Did you ask her seven what, ???? she might have meant dwarfs 😆
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Owe I knew her kids are taking care of stuff now just isn't the same.

Her Husbands mom was an Alcoholic and all the kids were put up for adoption and a Amish family adopted him.

Her son held off joining the Church because they needed A/C for her Grandson he couldn't walk and was in a Body Cast.

His wife was told she couldn't have kids because a Hores crippled her up.

Her Mom was naming kids following the alphabet. Her name was Oleda and she wasn't the youngest.

big rockpile
 
Tetters said:
View attachment 2319 I have witnessed the aftermath of Australian bush fires many times, and it has always fascinated me how well the native trees continue - seemingly coming back from the dead. In quite a few cases, they really do need fire to germinate the seeds, but it's almost spooky to see growth (as in the picture) very quickly appear when the trees look as if they are gone for ever.
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Actually when fire goes through Timber the ash is full of nutrients so regrowth has a good start.

Fire may burn trees and all but it don't hurt the nutrients.

big rockpile
 
Anniekay said:
The natives didn't stay all year in the same place and they would burn off the underbrush in the woods, that makes it easier to spot deer they need to hunt. So, the burning of the scrub fertilized the soil and the method does work symbiotically. Try it, you'll see
Click to expand...

Burning is called a Poor Man's Food Plot.

Brings forth fresh growth that Deer and others like.

Three Sisters were planted and not cultivated they would go back in the Fall and harvest Dry Corn and Beans and Squash


big rockpile
 
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