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tfacey's Buzz Apr 21, 2012
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I've decided to turn one of my raised beds into a three sisters garden using sunflowers instead of corn. Have you ever heard of this?
linzelu100 replied about 1 year ago
I have heard of that. I have a three sisters bed too. I am using corn though. My only advice would be to wait until the sunflowers are a few inches high, then plant the beans next to them (West, SOuth, East sides only). That way the beans don't smother the flowers out before they get  chance to take off :) Hope this helps :)
tfacey replied about 1 year ago
@linzelu100: how many do you have?
JMTKMS replied about 1 year ago
I've heard of it, but long forgot, so remind me how it works.  Plant Corn, and beans to grow up it, but what is the third sister?
tfacey replied about 1 year ago
The third sister is squash. It's broad leaves keep the ground covered and the prickly leaves act as a bug deterrent... along with a whole host of other benefits.
JMTKMS replied about 1 year ago
@tfacey:  Thank you!  Now if only I could think how to apply it in my garden... just to check it out.  Maybe I will go plant some corn by my squash.  Do you plant all 3 at once?  or should you stagger them a bit...??
tfacey replied about 1 year ago
@JMTKMS: do a liitle google search....there is specific timing and placement for everything. I have decided to do this with at least one of my front lawn beds.
puckamok replied about 1 year ago
I think I have read that sunflowers are allelopathic which might explain why three sisters doesn't work well for me. I always interplant sunflowers and now I thinking i need to give them their own space. I have also tried amaranth and quinoa in the three sisters.

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