I had to look that up. Corn and squash haven't done well outside in my area because of the cold and short summers, but the agriculturists are working on that. So no, not this year but maybe some day in the not too far away future.
Some Native Americans tribes have planted crops like this for many generations. The bean plant uses the corn plant as a trellis and the squash acts as a ground cover. I did it a few years ago but it was one of those intense heat with very low humidity and no rain summers, the very dry air sucked all the moisture out of plants and mine didn't get very far.
I have done 2 of the sisters in the past and have grown my squash around the corn. It has worked okay-ish, but I don't have any access to water on our allotment site, and as both crops are thirsty beasts, I think they both suffered a little from the competition.
Well, I should have fun; for a start, I've never grown squash or corn before, and I won't be doing it in a circle, but a block (which I've been told is possible) so...go me, non-convention, lol.
I grew my Hooker's corn in a block last year (only five feet by five feet) and it did well. It is a smaller variety that has sweet small ears that are white and later dry black. It is very sweet. I actually planted it as a second fill-in crop the last of July and with our unseasonable long fall harvested in October. It does well in short seasons like our PNW climate and is an heirloom variety. My scarlet runners were on posts next to it, but would have quickly covered the stalks if allowed.
Growing it in a block should be fine. The Native Americans grew it in a circle to promote better pollination and since the circle is a sacred symbol it was grown in that way to honor the Creator. The three plants have a symbiotic relationship besides just the corn being a trellis for the beans and the squash shading their roots. Beans are a nitrogen fixer, they absorb nitrogen from the air, turn it into the type of nitrogen that plants can absorb, disperse it thru their roots to the roots of the corn and squash, both of which are 'nitrogen hogs'
After reading it further on the net, I guess I have to pass this time :'( Don't think I have enough space for it.
You can grow one three sisters circle garden in a space about 3 feet in diameter, you thin the corn seedlings down to 4 even spaced around the circle. It can also be grown in a large container, one seed of each in each container.
Thanks for the tip toni, maybe I can try that I guess I have to teach the squash to grow in a circle.
