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I can find 26 distinct references to "Three Sisters". However, based on the way this question is categorized, I will assume it refers to the garden / crop plants.

The Three Sisters are the three main crops of some Native American cultures: squash, maize (corn), and climbing beans. They are called three sisters because they make a very effective companion planting, in which all three are planted together in a single mound. The Native Americans learned that the three crops benefit from each other. The maize provides a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide the nitrogen to the soil that the other plants utilize and the squash spreads along the ground, blocking the sunlight, which helps prevent weeds. The squash leaves act as a "living mulch," creating a microclimate to retain moisture in the soil, and the prickly hairs of the vine deter pests. Maize lacks the amino acids lysine and trytophan, which the body needs to make proteins and niacin, but beans contain both and therefore together they provide a balanced diet.

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15y ago

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