If you want to try your hands at sustainable planting, here’s an informative guide on How to Grow a Three Sister Garden in Pots!
Learn a smart gardening technique in this detailed article on How to Grow a Three Sister Garden in Pots and enjoy the best of companion planting with a bountiful harvest right in your yard!
What is Three Sister Garden?
- The corn stalks provide sturdy support for the vining beans to grow.
- Pole beans are legumes that absorb the atmospheric nitrogen and release it into the soil in the form of ammonium nitrogen, benefitting its companions.
- Also, it attracts beneficial pests such as leaf beetles, leafhoppers, and fall armyworms that keep the corn pests at bay.
- On the other hand, squash acts as a living mulch and helps retain moisture and keep the weeds away.
How to Grow a Three-Sister Garden in Pots?
Growing a three-sister garden in pots is a little tricky as the trio needs ample space to produce a bountiful harvest. Although, you can successfully cultivate the vegetables if you follow these steps specifically:
1. Choose the Right Container
Corn plants are typically wind-pollinated, hence requiring 4-6 plants for successful pollination. Also, the trio includes pole beans and squash plantation that requires a minimum of 24 inches wide bed.
While growing in containers, get a pot of 24-30 inches in width and 12-15 inches in depth. Alternatively, you can also go with grow bags or large tubs for growing the
2. Prepare the Pot
Fill the pot with a well-draining, nutrient-rich potting medium. Preferably, use loamy soil amended with a nitrogen-based fertilizer and a handful of perlite. Ensure that enough holes are drilled in the container for proper drainage. Maintain a neutral pH of 5.5-7, ideal for growing vegetables.
To make your work easier, make three mounds for each patch of plant in the pot with your hands. Make one in the center, pushing 12 inches of the soil width for corn. You can then plant the beans and squash around the corn to create a proper bed.
3. Sow the Seeds
Sow 4-6 corn kernels in a circle at a distance of 6 inches. Soak them overnight to boost the chances of propagation. Water the mound well for a few weeks until the stalks grow to a length of 4-6 inches.
Plant 4 bean seeds around each corn plant. The seeds will sprout out small saplings in about a week’s time.
Sow 3-4 squash seeds around the edge of the pot. Water the pot well. After the seeds sprout, thin them out and leave the healthiest two plants to grow.
4. Select the Right Variety
While planning a three sister garden in a pot, choosing the right variety of vegetables that grow well in a limited space is necessary.
Corn: Go for Hopi White or Tarahumara corn; their short structure is fit for growing in pots.
Pole Beans: Four Corners Gold Beans or Hopi Light Yellow beans work the best for their tender growing character. You can go for any variety that does not climb vigorously to help the corn bush grow in its full glory.
Squash: Zucchini would go pretty well with the arrangement for their small leaves. Make sure to grow them around the pot edges as they have a vigorous growing tendency and would end up disturbing the other plants in the pot.
Best Care Tips for Three Sister Garden in Pot
- Start your garden in the late spring to provide enough growing time for the plants.
- The trio needs a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. It is advisable to set the pot in a sunny spot from the beginning as it will be a tough job to move the pot once the garden is established.
- Sidedress each plant patch with organic manure or a 10-10-10 compost for best results. You can also use fish emulsion or egg shells for a fuller harvest.
- Weed the bed before planting the beans and squash. However, you’ll not need to weed them as the squash will create a living mulch once established.
- Water the pot well, it is necessary to keep the soil evenly moist. Although, ensure to not overwater to keep the potential diseases at bay.
Harvesting
Harvesting depends on the fruiting season of each plant which is generally by fall. You’ll need to inspect the vegetables to see if they are ready for harvest.
Corn: Harvest the ears when the husks are dry; you can also store them in a cool and dry place.
Beans: Snip the dry beans once the pods turn brown and dry. if you wish to harvest the green beans, pluck them while they are tender and soft.
Squash: Squashes are ready for harvest when the skin turns yellowish-orange and hardens a little.
