Tradition
No chart mentions this pair.
Carrot
Daucus carota subsp. sativus
Apiaceae
Sweet corn
Zea mays
PoaceaeCan you plant carrots and corn together?
Yes. Carrots and corn grow well together. A shared bed gave about 50% more harvest than separate beds in 2 field trials. That rests on two studies, so treat it as a lead, not a rule.
Why carrots and corn work together
More harvest from the same bed. In 2 field trials, a bed with both crops gave about 50% more harvest than the same space split into a carrot bed and a sweet corn bed.
What to plant with carrots and corn
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
PepperWith carrots: 127% more harvestWith corn: 44% more harvest
ParsleyWith carrots: 137% more harvestWith corn: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
BeanWith carrots: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith corn: 43% more harvest
CucumberWith carrots: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith corn: Fewer pests
What to keep away from carrots and corn
PeaWith carrots: Smaller combined harvest
ParsnipWith carrots: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
DillWith carrots: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
PotatoWith carrots: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
RadishWith carrots: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
CeleryWith corn: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
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
No papers found on this pair.
Yield trial
Good
0.59
0.92
Sweet corn gains more. Partial LER is each crop's share of the yield it would give alone.
2 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 carrots and corn
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With carrots | With corn |
|---|---|---|
| Pepper | 127% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for carrots and peppers | Lures pests away, better soil and nutrient uptake and less disease44% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 5 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and peppers |
| Parsley | 137% more harvest from the same spaceSame family (Apiaceae): shares pests and diseasesField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for carrots and parsley | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for corn and parsley |
| Bean | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for carrots and beans | Draws in pest-eating insects, fewer pests and better soil and nutrient uptake43% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 22 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for corn and beans |
| Cucumber | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for carrots and cucumbers | Fewer pestsField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for corn and cucumbers |
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
- GoodLER 1.54field trialUSA, 1984; Additive design; median LER 1.54 over 6 treatment(s) · partial LER Carrot 0.595, Sweet corn 0.955Intercropping carrot and sweetcorn in a multiple cropping system (Ogbuehi · 1987)
- GoodLER 1.46field trialIndia, 2010-2011; NA design; median LER 1.46 over 2 treatment(s) · partial LER Carrot 0.58, Sweet corn 0.88
All neighbours of carrot and of sweet corn, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown carrots and corn 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.