Tradition
Good
avoidgood
3 chart entries: 3 recommend, 0 advise against.
2 cited, 1 uncited.
Sweet corn
Zea mays
Poaceae
Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
FabaceaeCan you plant corn and beans together?
Yes. Corn and beans grow well together. A shared bed gave about 43% more harvest than separate beds in 16 field trials, and growing them together improved the soil and nutrient uptake in a field trial.
Why corn and beans work together
More harvest from the same bed. In 16 field trials, a bed with both crops gave about 43% more harvest than the same space split into a bean bed and a sweet corn bed.
Better soil and nutrient uptake. In a field trial, growing them together improved the soil and nutrient uptake.
Genotype Combinations Drive Variability in the Microbiome Configuration of the Rhizosphere of Maize/Bean Intercropping System. (Lanzavecchia G · 2024 · International journal of molecular sciences)Fewer pests. In 2 greenhouse or pot trials, beans kept pests off corn.
Intercropping and cover cropping differentially alter maize secondary metabolism and affect herbivore resistance (Jordán JP · 2026 · Journal of Applied Ecology.)and 1 more sourceDraws in pest-eating insects. In a greenhouse or pot trial, growing them together drew in pest-eating insects.
Associational resistance in the milpa: herbivore-induced maize volatiles enhance extrafloral nectar-mediated defenses in common bean via shared parasitoids. (Grof-Tisza P · 2025 · The New phytologist)Garden charts recommend it. 3 garden chart entries recommend growing them together. 1 of them cite no source. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
Companion planting: Myth or reality? (2010 · Utah Pests News)and 1 more source
What to plant with corn and beans
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
RadishWith corn: 40% more harvestWith beans: 21% more harvest
SpinachWith corn: 57% more harvestWith beans: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
CarrotWith corn: 50% more harvestWith beans: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
CilantroWith corn: 42% more harvestWith beans: Recommended by garden charts
GarlicWith corn: 33% more harvestWith beans: Draws in pest-eating insects
What to keep away from corn and beans
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Research
Good
avoidgood
6 papers found: 6 positive, 0 negative.
pest suppression x2yield / land use x2natural enemiesnutrients / soil
auto-classified not reviewed by a person
Yield trial
Good
0.89
0.65
Sweet corn gains more. Partial LER is each crop's share of the yield it would give alone.
16 field trials. Published LERs lean high.
Good neighbours
What happens above and below ground
Each animation illustrates a mechanism a study reported for this pair. Pick a card to focus on it.
Everything at once.
Companion plants for both corn and beans
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With corn | With beans |
|---|---|---|
| Radish | 40% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and radishes | 21% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and radishes |
| Spinach | 57% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and spinach | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and spinach |
| Carrot | 50% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and carrots | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and carrots |
| Cilantro | 42% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and cilantro | No effect on pest-eating insectsField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and cilantro |
| Garlic | 33% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and garlic | Draws in pest-eating insectsField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for beans and garlic |
 Squash & pumpkin | 13% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 4 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for corn and squash | Fewer pests and better soil and nutrient uptake17% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 7 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and squash |
 Basil | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and basil | Fewer pests21% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 3 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for beans and basil |
 Cucumber | Fewer pestsField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and cucumbers | 14% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and cucumbers |
 Dill | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for corn and dill | Fewer pests, better soil and nutrient uptake and bigger combined harvestField trial, 5 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for beans and dill |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
The evidence, with sources
- Goodnatural enemiesgreenhouse / pot trialauto-classifiedAssociational resistance in the milpa: herbivore-induced maize volatiles enhance extrafloral nectar-mediated defenses in common bean via shared parasitoids.Associational resistance in the milpa: herbivore-induced maize volatiles enhance extrafloral nectar-mediated defenses in common bean via shared parasitoids. (Grof-Tisza P · 2025 · The New phytologist)Relevance 84% · effect confidence 88%
- Goodpest suppressiongreenhouse / pot trialauto-classifiedBean helps Sweet cornIntercropping and cover cropping differentially alter maize secondary metabolism and affect herbivore resistanceIntercropping and cover cropping differentially alter maize secondary metabolism and affect herbivore resistance (Jordán JP · 2026 · Journal of Applied Ecology.)Relevance 86% · effect confidence 86%
- Goodnutrients / soilfield trialauto-classifiedGenotype Combinations Drive Variability in the Microbiome Configuration of the Rhizosphere of Maize/Bean Intercropping System.Genotype Combinations Drive Variability in the Microbiome Configuration of the Rhizosphere of Maize/Bean Intercropping System. (Lanzavecchia G · 2024 · International journal of molecular sciences)Relevance 83% · effect confidence 27%
Show 3 more
- Goodpest suppressiongreenhouse / pot trialauto-classifiedBean helps Sweet corn'The Three Sisters' (maize/bean/squash) polyculture promotes the direct and indirect defences of maize against herbivores'The Three Sisters' (maize/bean/squash) polyculture promotes the direct and indirect defences of maize against herbivores (Liao H · 2024 · European Journal of Agronomy.)Relevance 82% · effect confidence 94%
- Goodyield / land usefield trialauto-classifiedBean helps Sweet cornPhotosynthetic response and agronomic performance of maize intercropped with beans using different planting patterns and fertilizers under the ambient conditions of the Colombian Amazon.Photosynthetic response and agronomic performance of maize intercropped with beans using different planting patterns and fertilizers under the ambient conditions of the Colombian Amazon. (Suárez JC · 2025 · PloS one)Relevance 81% · effect confidence 89%
- Goodyield / land usefield trialauto-classifiedBean helps Sweet cornMilpa polyculture enhances productivity through crop complementarity and potential carry over effectsMilpa polyculture enhances productivity through crop complementarity and potential carry over effects (Bustos-Segura C · 2026 · bioRxiv)Relevance 82% · effect confidence 43%
- GoodLER 1.43field trialMalawi, 2013-2016; Additive design; median LER 1.43 over 2 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.655, Sweet corn 0.775
- GoodLER 1.61field trialSouth Africa, 2009-2011; Replacement design; median LER 1.62 over 12 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.84, Sweet corn 0.805
- GoodLER 2.73field trialBrazil, 1991; Additive design; median LER 2.73 over 64 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 1.21, Sweet corn 1.52
Show 13 more
- GoodLER 1.60field trialSouth Africa, 1998; Replacement design; median LER 1.60 over 6 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.64, Sweet corn 0.81
- GoodLER 1.24field trialAustralia, 2011-2012; Additive design; median LER 1.24 over 6 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.29, Sweet corn 0.9
- GoodLER 1.63field trialEthiopia, 1996-2000; Replacement design; median LER 1.63 over 25 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.8, Sweet corn 0.83Maize-Bean Intercrop Weed Suppression and Profitability in Southern Ethiopia (Workayehu · 2011)
- GoodLER 1.64field trialEthiopia, 2018-2018; Additive design; median LER 1.64 over 5 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.73, Sweet corn 0.94
- No effectLER 1.01field trialTurkey, 2001-2003; NA design; median LER 1.01 over 6 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.46, Sweet corn 0.575
- GoodLER 1.72field trialCameroon, 2021; Additive design; median LER 1.72 over 4 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.855, Sweet corn 0.865
- GoodLER 1.43field trialSouth Africa, 2017-2018; Additive design; median LER 1.43 over 1 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.52, Sweet corn 0.91
- GoodLER 1.36field trialIndia, 2009-2013; Additive design; median LER 1.36 over 6 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.68, Sweet corn 0.875
- GoodLER 1.27field trialIndia, 2005; Additive design; median LER 1.27 over 3 treatment(s)Studies on Maize-Vegetable Intercropping Systems (Hugar · 2008)
- GoodLER 1.32field trialIndia, 2011-2012; Additive design; median LER 1.32 over 4 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.405, Sweet corn 0.91
- GoodLER 2.15field trialAlgeria, 2011-2012; Replacement design; median LER 2.15 over 4 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.975, Sweet corn 1.11
- GoodLER 1.21field trialUnited Kingdom, NA; Additive design; median LER 1.21 over 9 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.53, Sweet corn 0.73
- No effectLER 1.04field trialBrazil, 1990; Additive design; median LER 1.04 over 12 treatment(s) · partial LER Bean 0.225, Sweet corn 0.825
- GoodSweet corn helps BeanBeans, pole: helped by CornList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- GoodSweet corn helps BeanCorn / Maize: helps BeansCompanion planting: Myth or reality? (2010 · Utah Pests News)Companion Plants (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
- GoodBean helps Sweet cornCorn / Maize: helped by legumes (beans, peas, soybeans etc.)Companion planting: Myth or reality? (2010 · Utah Pests News)Companion Plants (Alabama Cooperative Extension System)
All neighbours of sweet corn and of bean, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown corn and beans together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.