Companion plants for beans
What to grow next to beans, what to keep away from them, and why. Each reason is tagged by how well it’s supported.
Good companions
Sweet corn Garden tradition
Three Sisters: pole beans climb corn stalks.
Squash Garden tradition
Three Sisters ground cover.
Carrots Practical reason
Different root depths; beans leave some nitrogen in the soil.
Cucumbers Practical reason
Share trellis space and similar timing.
Keep apart
Onions, garlic, leeks Garden tradition
Traditionally said to stunt beans.
Fennel Garden tradition
Inhibits most vegetables.
Planning the bed
Space beans 4 inches apart (9 per square foot in square-foot gardening); the spacing calculator works out how many fit. For timing, see when to plant beans, and the full companion planting chart compares all 16 vegetables at once.
Questions gardeners ask
What are the best companion plants for beans?
Sweet corn, Squash, Carrots, Cucumbers. Sweet corn: Three Sisters: pole beans climb corn stalks.
What should you not plant with beans?
Onions, garlic, leeks, Fennel. Onions, garlic, leeks: Traditionally said to stunt beans.