These sisters are not imaginary characters but are in fact corn (maize), beans and squash.
Amazingly these are not only mutually beneficial botanically, but also biologically as corn provides carbohydrates, beans protein and squash vitamin A, all vital for sustaining and nourishing human life as well as each other.

The idea is that the fast-growing corn acts as a support for the beans, a climbing type such as the perennial favourite, ‘The Lazy Housewife’ (yes, that really is its name, a variety that has been around since 1882!). The beans in turn help the corn, a heavy feeder, by fixing nitrogen in the soil.

Squash is grown for shelter as its large leaves cover the exposed soil, which prevents the scorching sun from drying it up and allows smaller plants to enjoy the filtered light they provide.

With spring’s arrival the squash family includes butternuts and pumpkins so you have several choices, though I suggest staying away from climbing types like rolet gem squash as they may try to climb your corn and under fruitful load may well pull it down.

Growing these three crops together is a great way to save space, cut back on your watering and is a fantastic way of introducing children to the growing experience as they are all easy growers.

I like to rotate the beds each year with additional legumes like peas, which fix further valuable nitrogen in the soil to ensure that the soil is taken care of.
Sunflowers are also a welcome addition, planted on the edge of the beds they provide a bit of colour and nutrient-rich seeds.



Matt Allison is a Cape Town based eco-advocate and urban farmer who's rethinking food one meal at a time. Find out more from him at www.imnojamieoliver.com