My 3 (5) sisters garden experiment

[doccat5]

Thanks for the info on the pollution clean site. Interesting information. I've found using field corn for doing a 3 sister's planting works the best. The stalks are heavier and slightly broader and can more easily support the weight of the beans. I can remember my Dad doing them this way. Being from NE, finding field corn seed was not a problem, LOL

[sandbar]

Hey, Alan ... how did your experiment turn out?

[Alan]

Not so well I'm afraid to say. Blueflint was kind enough to send me some Native American varieties to try out and both plots of corn got attacked by raccons and the beans didn't make it through the drought though I did get a few squash for seed and pies.

I also of course had tobacco and sunflowers planted other places along with squash and they did really well.

I'm going to experiment with the three sisters again this year and see if I have any better luck, hopefully I will.

[ottawagardener]

I've heard of people using sunflower as 'barriers' to add in preventing seed crossing but I have my doubts. Anyhow, I have always grown it away from my main garden veggies because of hearing that it affects the growth of other plants. I have never noticed a problem with the plants that it does grow beside though. I have also heard of people growing cukes up them?

[stratcat]

I noticed my tomato plants were stunted and lost production when I let a few sunflowers volunteer amongst them one year.

Only tried The Three Sisters once six years ago and had much more fun with it than success. The corn was my weak spot.

john

[canadamike]

I did the 2 sisters this year on a small scale. It went very well. I simply forgot to come back to plant the beans at the end of the day, hence the name ;D

[flowerpower]

You have to time it right with the planting. Like I planted the corn too late (too small) and the few gourds I had knocked some right down. I am going to chop down the dried corn stalks today. They got snowed on. So I am pretty sure they are dead.