Like in the legend, the corn, the bean and the squash are sister plants in the field and in the plate. They are complementary for the use of space and soil in the field and bring complementary nutrients, vitamins and amino-acids in the diet when cooked together. In one word, the perfect association!

Growing the 3 sisters is not difficult but a good timing is necessary. Depending of your favourite corn, beans or squash, you will have to adapt the example hereunder (adapted from www.parkseed.com)

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Shape a flat-topped circular mound of soil 30 cm high and 60 cm diameter. Space the mounds 1 m apart centre to centre.Plant first 6 seeds of corn on the top in circle in the centre.

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2-3 weeks later, the corn should be 15 cm high. Plant 8 beans seeds in the middle between the corn circle and the edge of the mound.

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It is then time for squash; let’s say one week later. Plant 6 squash seeds around the base of the mound.

Last step is the thinning: you keep the 3 strongest corn, 6 beans and 3 squash. Help 2 beans to climb each corn. The squash (after pruning) must turn around the 2 other plants.

Our first trial gave the best results in term of timing with sweet corn, and lima bean (patani) for the timing. Other beans like winged bean were growing too slowly and pole sitao too fast. The mais really seemed taking advantage of the association.

The squash didn’t find good environmental conditions with too much water and didn’t produce fruits. In a new trial we test sweet corn, snap bean and squash is planted earlier.