This year I decided I needed to understand the three sisters better. I blocked off a four foot square in the garden and planted the corn. The seedlings came up quickly.
I waited until the corn was ten inches high to plant the beans and I planted the squash separately.
Everything was growing much better than in the container and I was able to keep everything watered and fed.
The three sisters in their glory.
Although the squash had a tendency to flop outside of the planting square, I had corn for the first time. It was chewy but tasty. My friend at the farmer's market, Kevin, has the best corn of all. He explained that I needed to pick the ears sooner.
I may have planted the beans too late. They did not want to climb the corn stalks. There were a few string beans and squash blossoms but no squash. Then there was the arrival of powdery mildew. It attacked the whole neighborhood. It is not dangerous for the plants but it probably does not taste good. It is not very pretty so there are no photos of the blighted plants.
Next season I might try a container again with dwarf corn and ornamental beans and squash. In the center bed, I would like to plant wheat.
