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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings

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  • From: road's end farm <organic101 AT linkny.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] RE: Three Sisters plantings
  • Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:40:47 -0500


On Mar 22, 2005, at 10:35 AM, mtlivestock wrote:

I have found the three sister planting information online to be incomplete.
I could not find specifics on the timing, distance, and depth of planting
each variety with each other. How close or how far away are the beans to
the corn plants? When to plant the beans and squash? And where to plant
the squash (between corn rows?)?

The information I have is for a hill system, not a row system. It says to space low hills 3 to 4 feet apart both ways; plant five to seven corn seeds in each hill. When corn is about 6" high, and after weeding, plant four or five bean seeds in each hill, and four or five pumpkin/squash seeds in every seventh hill; planting them "around the corn plants" (the diagram shows them planted just outside the corn but right next to it). Alternatively the rows of corn hills can be planted further apart, planted with corn and beans as above, but the pumpkins/squash can be planted in their own row(s) of hills between the rows of corn/bean hills. This if I'm reading the diagram right allows a somewhat higher proportion of squash to beans than the 1/7 of the first technique.

You could probably use a row system but similar seed proportions and timing. There should apparently be a little less bean seed than corn seed, and considerably less squash/pumpkins if you are planting any of those.


Also, how does the vining of the pole bean effect the growth of the corn
ears? Curious to know if the yield is better or worse than normal
production.

It's my understanding that intercropped systems in general produce a higher total yield per acre, but a smaller yield of each individual crop. That is, if you planted an acre of mixed corn and beans, it would produce more than an acre planted as 1/2 acre each of corn and beans planted separately; but the corn crop would be less than that of an acre of monocropped corn, and the bean yield less than that of an acre of monocropped beans.

I don't know if anyone has done enough studies to give an indication as to whether this would apply in your situation.

Does the corn need to be planted in wider rows to accommodate
the squash or to allow sufficient ventilation?


You might have to play around with this one if you can't find anybody who has tried it with row systems in your area. The hill system spacing given above might give you some ideas; bear in mind that it's from the relatively cool, humid, and short season Northeast. But the info I have does state that if you use too much squash/pumpkin it can choke out the rest of the planting; you have to get the proportions right.

-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale





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