About this guild
The Three Sisters is a centuries-old polyculture: maize (corn) provides a trellis for climbing beans, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and squash sprawls to shade the ground and suppress weeds. Together they use vertical space, nutrients, and sunlight efficiently in one bed.
NZ note
Works well in North Island and warm microclimates; use faster corn varieties in cooler South Island sites.
Guild roles
How these plants work together in the bed.
Structure
Corn
Living trellis + wind-pollinated grain
Nitrogen
Beans
Fixes N for hungry corn and squash
Living mulch
Squash / pumpkin
Shades soil, reduces weeds
Plants in Three Sisters
5 species — tap for individual companion guides and spacing.
Planting tips
- Plant corn first in a block (not a single row) for wind pollination.
- Add beans when corn is knee-high; squash when beans are established.
- In NZ, sow after frost risk — spring through early summer depending on region.
Use the compatibility matrix
Filter to Three Sisters to see green (beneficial), red (incompatible), and grey (neutral) for every pair. Desktop: hover cells. Mobile: tap for details and sources.
- Filter — guild pre-selected in the matrix URL
- Compare — row × column shows each relationship
- Plan — share the URL or download the PDF guide