Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

This is not to promote Park seed - I don't buy from them and don't plant
hybrids ever - but look how they try to jump on the bandwagon!  Companion
planting? Three Sisters? Sure. Note they use this angle to promote their
own named varieties of hybrids, mainly the same old hybrids with fancy
names tacked on. 

paul tradingpost@lobo.net
------------------------------------------

Park Seed Newsletter - March 2007
--------------------------------------------
The Original Companion Planting -- The Three Sisters!
Direct-Sow Corn, Beans, and Squash to Boost Yields Naturally

To view the full-color version of this newsletter, follow or paste the
following url into your browser's address bar.
http://images.parkseed01.com/parksgardens/pem000505/sistapem000505he.html

To ensure the delivery of Park Seed E-Newsletters, please add
info@parkscs.com to your address book.


The Original Companion Planting -- The Three Sisters!
Direct-Sow Corn, Beans, and Squash to Boost Yields Naturally
======================================================

The ancient Native American technique of growing Corn, Beans, and Squash
together in an arrangement called the Three Sisters is the ultimate in
companion planting and helps increase harvests, naturally! 

Corn acts as a support for climbing bean vines, the beans fix nitrogen in
the soil for the high feeding requirements of corn and squash, and the
squash provides mulch and root protection for the corn and beans! After
cooperating beautifully in the garden, corn and beans form a complete
protein when eaten together! How's that for a mutually beneficial
relationship?

The Three Sisters are all easy to direct sow in the garden and are a great
project for children, teaching them about the beauty of natural harmony
while providing a fast-growing reward for their efforts. 

Make the best possible use of your garden space this season, and try
growing the Three Sisters! Just follow the easy steps listed below,
fertilize well, plant other companions like herbs to assist with pest
control, and you'll be harvesting your best crop in no time!


Sister Corn
The oldest of the three sisters proudly stands tall and strong
----------------------------------

Corn Bicolor Mirai 301BC 
Seeds. #5538 
Pkt of 100 seeds
$3.99 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5538/NV.cid.pem000505


Corn Sugar Buns Hybrid
Seeds. #5112 
Pkt of 340 seeds 
$2.95 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5112/NV.cid.pem000505


Corn Legend Hybrid 
Seeds. #5542
Pkt of 200 seeds 
$2.95 each 
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5542/NV.cid.pem000505


Corn Silver Princess Hybrid 
Seeds. #5801
Pkt of 200 seeds
$2.50 each 
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5801/NV.cid.pem000505


Corn Butterfruit Original Early 
Seeds. #5122
Pkt of 200 seeds 
$3.50 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5122/NV.cid.pem000505


Corn Honey 'N Pearl Hybrid 
Seeds. #5587
Pkt of 200 seeds 
$2.50 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5587/NV.cid.pem000505


Sister Beans
The middle sister leans on her big sister for support, and binds the three
together
----------------------------------

Pole Bean Blue Lake FM-1 
Seeds. #5027
Pkt of 50 seeds
$1.45 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5027/NV.cid.pem000505


Bean Smeraldo 
Seeds. #5015
Pkt of 100 seeds
$3.75 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5015/NV.cid.pem000505


Bean Kwintus 
Seeds. #5023
Pkt of 100 seeds
$3.95 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5023/NV.cid.pem000505


Bean Kentucky Wonder 
Seeds. #5029
Pkt of 100 seeds
$1.60 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5029/NV.cid.pem000505


Bean Kentucky Blue 
Seeds. #5032
Pkt of 100 seeds 
$1.95 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5032/NV.cid.pem000505


Bean Mountaineer White Half Runner 
Seeds. #5016
Pkt of 100 seeds
$1.20 each  
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5016/NV.cid.pem000505


Sister Squash
The youngest sister crouches at the others' feet, shading them and
protecting from foes
----------------------------------

Squash Early Summer Crookneck Organic 
Seeds. #5849
Pkt of 20 seeds
$2.25 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5849/NV.cid.pem000505


Squash Magda Hybrid 
Seeds. #5784
Pkt of 15 seeds 
$2.25 each 
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5784/NV.cid.pem000505


Squash One Ball Hybrid 
Seeds. #5794
Pkt of 20 seeds 
$2.50 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5794/NV.cid.pem000505


Winter Squash Early Butternut Hybrid 
Seeds. #5296
Pkt of 20 seeds
$1.95 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5296/NV.cid.pem000505


Pumpkin Rumbo Hybrid
Seeds. #5304
Pkt of 25 seeds 
$2.50 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5304/NV.cid.pem000505


Squash Dixie Hybrid 
Seeds. #5305
Pkt of 20 seeds 
$1.95 each
http://www.parkseed.com/gardening/Park/PD.5305/NV.cid.pem000505


Here's How to Do It!
Grow your very own three sisters vegetable garden and enjoy bountiful
harvests
----------------------------------

In May or June when soil has warmed:
Shape a flat-topped circular mound of soil about a foot high and 2 feet
across at the top, sloping outward toward the base. Plant a circle of Corn
seeds on top, about 5 or 6, and water them in well, tamping down your soil
mound firmly so it doesn't wash away in the first rain. Space the mounds 3
or 4 feet apart in the garden.

Since all corn grows on sturdy, dependable stalks, the variety you choose
depends on the flavor, disease resistance, and holding ability you want.
Sugar Buns is a Sugar Enhanced (SE) yellow hybrid with absolutely
scrumptious golden kernels and is positively scrumptious. For SE whites,
you can't beat Silver Princess, with extra-long ears bursting with flavor.
And for the sweetest ears yet, you absolutely must try new Corn Mirai(TM),
available in Yellow, White, Bicolor, and even a Mini!


About two weeks later:
When your corn reaches about 5 or 6 inches high, plant Bean seeds (6 to 8
of them) around the edges of the flat top or about halfway down the sloping
sides of the circular mound. Push the seeds down deep into the soil and, if
you're planting on the slope, make sure the soil is nice and firm. Add a
bit of Nature's Aid at planting time to help the Beans fix nitrogen.

To get your Beans to climb up the cornstalks, choose Pole rather than Bush
varieties. Smeraldo is far and away the best-tasting Pole Bean, with flat
pods up to 10 inches long on vigorous 4- to 6-foot vines. Park gardeners
rave about Kwintus, a super-early performer with succulent pods on
stringless 8- to 10-inch pods. And Blue Lake is the classic name in Beans,
with top-quality dark green pods that are both stringless and fiberless,
even if you pick them a bit late. We even have Blue Lake available in
organic seed!


One week or so after that:
Plant Squash seeds around the base of the mound, on flat ground. You can
make them radiate around the mound, or just go in the direction you have
available space! 6 to 8 seeds in a ring around the base of the mound is
usually plenty. 

The traditional Squash family member for this Sister is Pumpkin, with its
all-American flavor and long growing season. Rumbo is a unique Korean
variety that looks like an heirloom Pumpkin but tastes sweeter and more
succulent than a Butternut Squash! For a quicker harvest, grow Summer
Squash varieties such as organic Park's Early Summer Crookneck or Zucchini
such as space-saving One Ball Hybrid.


When everything begins growing...
Thin the plantings to 2 or 3 Corn stalks, each with no more than 2 Bean
plants winding around it. (You'll need to help the Beans get started
growing up the stalks). The Squash is going to vine along the ground, so
the number of plants you need depends on how far apart your mounds of corn
and beans are, how long the vines get, and how much walking space you need
in the garden.