Companion plants for potatoes
What to grow next to potatoes, what to keep away from them, and why. Each reason is tagged by how well it’s supported.
Good companions
Bush beans Garden tradition
Fix some nitrogen and are harvested before potatoes need the space.
Peas Practical reason
Early crop that finishes as potatoes bulk up.
Horseradish (in pots nearby) Garden tradition
A traditional pairing; keep it contained because it spreads.
Keep apart
Tomatoes Backed by research
Share late blight and early blight; keep them apart and rotate.
Squash and pumpkins Practical reason
Sprawling vines compete for space and water and make hilling hard.
Peppers and eggplant Backed by research
Same family, same soil-borne diseases (Verticillium wilt).
Planning the bed
Space potatoes 12 inches apart (1 per square foot in square-foot gardening); the spacing calculator works out how many fit. For timing, see when to plant potatoes, and the full companion planting chart compares all 16 vegetables at once.
Questions gardeners ask
What are the best companion plants for potatoes?
Bush beans, Peas, Horseradish (in pots nearby). Bush beans: Fix some nitrogen and are harvested before potatoes need the space.
What should you not plant with potatoes?
Tomatoes, Squash and pumpkins, Peppers and eggplant. Tomatoes: Share late blight and early blight; keep them apart and rotate.