The 3 sisters: Ancestral technique of associated cultivation

The so-called 3 sisters technique is a technique for growing companion plants. It comes to us from America where it was practiced empirically by the Indians to grow the 3 main vegetables that are the basis of their diet: corn, beans and squash. These 3 plants grown together are in fact complementary to each other and will help each other: - Thus, the tall, strong stalks of the corn will serve as a growth support for the beans (no need to install stakes). - The roots of the bean, like all other legumes, enrich the soil with nitrogen thanks to a symbiosis with bacteria, which will benefit the growth of the other two plants. - Finally, the squash will spread their foliage on the ground, which will have the effect, on the one hand, of preventing the development of weeds, and on the other hand, of forming a sort of natural plant mulch that will retain water and maintain soil moisture by protecting it from the sun's rays. Some thorny species will even protect crops from unwanted animals. From a nutritional point of view, it can also be noted that these 3 vegetables constitute a balanced diet, beans and corn for example providing together all the essential amino acids necessary for a balanced diet. The implementation of this cultivation technique is simple: - When the soil is sufficiently warm, in May/June (these crops still require a minimum of heat), form flattened mounds at the top about twenty cm high and sow the corn seeds at the top, in pockets of 3. - A week or two after germination, keep only the most vigorous corn plant and eliminate the others. - When the corn reaches about fifteen cm, sow the beans on the flat part of the mound, around the corn. Planting 3 bean plants per corn plant seems correct, to prevent the weight of the pods at maturity from bringing the corn to the ground. - A week later, place the squash at the foot of the mound. All that's left is to let these three companion plants help each other and wait for harvest time. Photo caption: Runner beans, Tom Thumb popcorn, and Gold Rush zucchini grown together using the 3 Sisters technique. With other vegetables in a tontine.