Your Three Sisters Garden

After posting yesterday about the changes being "considered" for corn crops (vaccines in corn?), I started thinking about my future crops of corn. As you may be aware, we can't grow corn this year because we're putting the house up for sale in a few weeks.

Last year, my first year of real gardening and of Three Sisters gardening, we planted a combination of crops in the corn patch.

(Pic to right was taken on July 7 2008 - looks busy doesn't it? Planted the beans too early and the corn too close together!)

• corn - Early and Often Sweet Corn, and a couple of Bloody Butcher and a couple of Blue Hopi - yes, they cross-pollinated and was quite interesting!
• beans - pole - Romano and KY Wonder - delicious
• squash - we planted too many summer squashes (which don't vine so that was way wrong), a few Mexican X-Top cushaw winter squashes, a Sugar Pie pumpkin, and a couple of spaghetti winter squashes. We didn't save seeds, and to this day, still have a couple of the X-Tops left in the basement.
• sunflowers - we grew mammoth and some were short and some were taller than 6 and 7 feet tall! The only thing is the beans didn't want to climb them, and I didn't give them enough space. They need more room than the corn stalks, because the stalks got huge, and the leaves pushed everything out of the way.

(Pic to right is the cornpatch in early September, but pic mostly shows the sunflowers.)

I'm buying the seed now for all of our future corn crops. Also gonna order the bean seed. Considering alternating one kind one year and another kind the next year, then change again.

• corn - Bloody Butcher switching to Black Aztec the next year - both can be eaten as corn on the cob but do better dried on the cob for corn meal. I understand the corn stalks can also be harvested before the first frost, completely uprooted, and dried upside down hanging from rafters and used as needed.
• bean - KY Wonder did great last year, but I can't find where it makes a good dried white bean. We did dry them but I'm kinda nervous about using. Anyone? Also, we want a second pole bean to alternate to the next year - considering Cherokee Trail of Tears which produces a shiny black bean that is good as a snap bean or dried.
• squash - we plan to alternate pumpkin (kind?) with Mexican X-Top cushaw (very long vines with lots of large fruit that stores well and seeds are great toasted) and possibly spaghetti or butternut.
• sunflowers - mammoth - only on the perimeter and spaced correctly!

We'll, of course, plant bush beans and summer squashes in other places. Can't imagine not growing soybeans! Plus we'll be planting gourds elsewhere, like bushel basket and birdhouse, for functional use later.

Anyway... ... I'm writing this because I'm curious - are YOU doing a Three Sisters garden this year? If so, what varieties are you growing? Are you concerned about my article yesterday about the GMO modification and vaccine-implanting of corn seed? Are you stocking up on seeds and learning about seed saving?

Sharing Seeds

Just a moment of your time please. People are having a really difficult time right now. Jobs are disappearing, and with it our homes are being foreclosed on. Grocery prices, especially for produce, have been high for months now. We are constantly bombarded with salmonella or e-coli produce scares. Stress levels are high.

You came to this blog because you plan, or hope someday, to plant a garden. You want healthy nutritious and untainted produce for your family. You've bought seeds and made your plans.

Spread the wealth.

• Is your neighbor having a tough time of it? Start a couple of tomato seedlings or peppers for them.
• Live in an apartment? The packets of seeds are way too big for you to use just by yourself. Make up little packets and leave them in the front lobby for other residents to grow and enjoy.
• Post a listing on Craigslist that you have free seeds for tomatoes, beans, or whatever. You'll get a lot of takers, especially this year.

What can you come up with? How can you help "your fellow man" and all that?

More on Seed Tapes

Forgot to mention ... if you don't want to make your own seed tapes, there are many providers. Browse through your local nursery, Home Depot, or even Wal-Mart. I've found them for black-seeded simpson lettuce, carrots, radishes, and more.

Also forgot to mention that on seed tapes that you buy, the germination rate doesn't seem to be very high. We used them for carrots and lettuce last year and about 1 of 5 sprouted on the carrots, and 1 of 10 on the lettuce. Not a good percentage. That's why I started making my own.

Good luck!

How to Make a Seed Tape

This picture is one of a seed tape I made last year. Onions - white bunching.

It's time to make more seed tapes because we have a lot of carrots to plant!

Why make your own? First, finding exactly the seed you want in a pre-made seed tape is almost impossible. Second, pre-made seed tapes are expensive! And third, it's easier to space the seeds by placing them on a seed tape than doing it in the garden with wind blowing those tiny carrot and herb seeds.

Here's how: Take a somewhat thin square of toilet paper... I usually use 3 squares as they are about 4" per square, so 3 squares x 4" each = 12". This works well when planning a square-foot garden. The pic above has 3 squares for the grouping of onions above. We use Angel Soft, or another really cheap brand. Always use white - you don't want dyes possibly affecting your seeds.

I put an ink-mark where I plan to place the seed. Remember to space them out according to your package unless you plan to transplant. Using washable elmer's glue or a paste made with flour and water, dot it where you want the seed, place the seed, place another sheet of toilet paper on top, and let it dry.

Be sure to write on the seed tape (in ink!) what you've made. Red bunching onion seeds look pretty much like white bunching onion seeds. And if you're planting 5 different carrots like we are this year, you'll need it.

After they are very dried, I store them flat in an oversized baggie.

When you're ready to plant (it's about time for lettuce, radishes and carrots), smooth the surface of the upturned soil where you want the plants to grow, and place the seed tapes on the surface. Cover with enough soil per instructions for the seed (a little more for the bigger seeds, and just barely any for the smaller like carrots). Gently water. Actually, I recommend you use a mister until the seeds have sprouted and have firm roots. It's not very pretty to have water (or rain!) displace the soil to leave the white toilet paper just hanging out there!

Easy!

Our Seed Order Jan 2009

Okay, we placed our first order of seeds with "Seeds of Change" and they arrived very quickly. Here's what we ordered:

PACK, CORN, SWEET, BLACK AZTEC
S10626 - bought 2 packs at $3.29 = $6.58
From their website (with editing):
Black Aztec Sweet Corn
Grows 4-5 feet
This remarkable variety was introduced in the 1860s by seedsman John Gregory. Classic, vigorous sweet and flour corn produces 8" ears with white kernels during the milk (eating) stage, then a deep blue black when dry. / So, good for roasting fresh, and left to dry on the plant, good for storing to make cornbread or chips. / Planting Depth: 1/2" / Soil Temp. for Germ.: 60-85°F / Days to Germ.: 4-12 / Plant Spacing: 12" / Days to Maturity: 70-95 / Full Sun / Moderate Water / Pack weight 21gms~ 100 seeds


PACK, BEAN, SOYBEAN, EDAMAME SAYAMUSUME
S15907 - bought 2 packs at $3.29 = $6.58
From their website (with editing):
Edamame Sayamusume
Max16-20
"Very productive and flavorful edamame of buttery sweetness on a 16-20" plant. Vivid green pods have three large beans each. A highly nutritious bean that is rich in protein, calcium, potassium, phytoestrogens, and many vitamins. Light pubescence on the pods. / Planting Depth: 1" / Soil Temp. for Germ: 60-80°F / Days to Germ: 7-15 / Plant Spacing: 3-6" / Days to Maturity: 75-85/ Full Sun / Moderate Water / Pack weight 21gms~ 150 seeds


PACK, BEAN, TEPARY, SONORAN GOLD
S10616 - bought 2 packs at $3.29 = $6.58
From their website (with editing):
Sonoran Gold Bush Tepary Bean
2-3 ft.
Native to the Sonoran Desert, this drought-tolerant, golden, dry soup bean was developed by the Papago tribe and has over 30% crude protein. Sow 6 seeds per foot directly in soil in rows 18-36 inches apart when danger of frost has passed. Watering tips. During germination, keep entire seedbed evenly moist. Water infrequently and deeply throughout the season. Harvesting tips. Harvest when pods turn brown and start becoming brittle. Finish drying indoors in a ventilated area. Put dry pods in feed sack or pillow case and jog in place on top of it to separate seeds from pods. / NOTE: These are supposed to produce less gas/flatulence than other beans. Sure are hoping that info is right! / Planting Depth: 1-2"/ Soil Temp. for Germ.: 70°F/ Days to Germ.: 9 / Plant Spacing: 2-4" / Days to Maturity: 80-90 / Full Sun / Less Water / Drought Tolerant / Pack weight 21gms ~ 70 seeds


= = =

I placed the order over the phone - 1-888-762-7333 - man who answered was very nice. Said all three were in stock, and we should have in 3-4 business days. We did.


However, things have changed. Now that we know we can't put the house on the market until June, which means it might not sell until later. We can't plant the corn, and don't have enough tubs to plant the beans. So... we've placed the beans in plastic bags and seal-a-meal'd them. They will definitely keep until our 2010 homestead garden.