The rains have started early this year, and it’s time to plant your Monsoon Garden!
You might try the Three Sisters (corn, beans and squash), a 5000-year-old method of gardening by American Indigenous cultures that involves mixing crops strategically. The corn provides support and a place for the beans to wind and climb. The beans take in nitrogen from the air, feeding it to the soil for all three to share. The giant squash leaves spread out, providing a natural mulch while shading the soil and keeping out critters.
Check out our Now Sowing! blog posts for more info on how to grow, plant, harvest and save seeds from common beans, tepary beans, and squash plants.
Grown together, the foods complement each other nutritionally, as well. Beans and corn combine to provide a complete protein, and the squash provides vitamins and nutritious oils from the seeds. When cooked all together, they make a lovely succotash. For more information and succotash recipes, check out these resources. Grow and eat well!
Some other plants you can sow with the summer monsoons include amaranth, cow peas (black-eyed peas), cucumbers, and sorghum.
Enjoy the rain and happy growing!
For some great picture books about rain, try this new list by PimaLib_SarahB!
