June 22, 2025, 11:21 am | Read time: 3 minutes
If you have a garden and grow your own vegetables, you try to plan as efficiently as possible. Space is usually limited, so people often turn to mixed cultivation. One form of this is the Milpa bed. myHOMEBOOK gardening editor Franka Kruse-Gering explains what it’s all about.
In times of ecological rethinking and a return to natural farming methods, an ancient principle of indigenous agriculture is experiencing a small renaissance: the Milpa garden. It originates from Central America, specifically from the traditions of the Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples, and offers a great combination of sustainability, soil care, and abundant yield. Implementing it is not difficult at all.
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What is a Milpa Garden?
A Milpa garden is a plot where mixed cultivation is practiced. Specifically, squash, beans, and corn are grown in this garden. It is also known as “The Three Sisters.”
The garden consists of three components:
Corn forms the “backbone” of the garden. Its sturdy stalks serve as a natural trellis for the beans.
Beans (usually pole beans) enrich the soil through nitrogen fixation, promoting the growth of all plants.
Squash spreads across the ground, shading it and protecting it from drying out and weeds with its large leaves.
Why the Milpa Garden Works
What might initially seem like “just mixed cultivation” is actually a finely tuned ecological interplay. Each of the three plants plays a role in the system that benefits the others. The soil is preserved, less watering is needed, and the dense planting largely suppresses weeds.
Pests also have a hard time because the Milpa garden offers little monoculture. The result: a more stable microclimate, healthier plants, and reduced maintenance effort.
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How to Set Up a Milpa Garden
The location should be sunny and well-ventilated, with nutrient-rich and permeable soil.
From mid-May, you can set up your Milpa garden. It is recommended to plant the corn first. About two to three weeks later, it’s time for the squash and beans. The reason is that the corn gets a small head start and can serve as a trellis for the beans from the beginning.
When planting, always focus on small groups. Each group consists of one corn plant, two to three bean plants, and one squash plant. The corn goes in the middle, the beans around it, and the squash with some distance beside it. There should be a distance of about 80 centimeters between the individual Milpa groups.
Regular watering during dry periods is important, especially in the first weeks. After that, the microclimate often regulates itself. Fertilization is usually hardly necessary due to the beans–a little compost in the summer is enough.