Watermelon
Companion plants for watermelon
The best companion plants for watermelon are potatoes and radishes. None of the plants we track is a clear bad neighbour. Of the 8 plants we have data on, 2 are good neighbours, 0 are bad ones and 3 are contested. 5 of these verdicts rest on field trials or research papers; the rest come from traditional companion-planting charts.
- 2 good
- 0 to avoid
- 3 contested
- 5 tested in trials or papers
Neighbours of watermelon at a glance
Inner rings are backed by trials or papers, outer rings by charts only. Pick a plant to see its sources.
The interactive map needs JavaScript. Every plant on it is listed below with its evidence.
Good companion plants for watermelon
Biggest harvest gain first, then the plants tested without a yield count. Each row links to the full evidence for the pair.
| Plant | What trials found with watermelon | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Potato |
Bigger combined harvest | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
 Radish |
Bigger combined harvest | Field trial1 study | Not listed |
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).
What not to plant with watermelon
No plant in our data is a clear bad neighbour for watermelon.
Relatives that share pests and diseases
| Plant | What trials found with watermelon | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cucumber |
No trial foundSame family (Cucurbitaceae): shares pests and diseases | Not tested | Not listed |
 Squash & pumpkin |
No trial foundSame family (Cucurbitaceae): shares pests and diseases | Not tested | Not listed |
 Melon |
No trial foundSame family (Cucurbitaceae): shares pests and diseases | Not tested | Not listed |
Contested pairings
The sources disagree, or the charts say one thing and the trials another. Open a pair before you plant it.
| Plant | What trials found with watermelon | Tested by | Garden charts |
|---|---|---|---|
 Sweet corn |
72% more harvest from the same spaceCompetes for light and waterMixed results on competition for light and water | Field trial2 studies | Not listed |
 Pepper |
Bigger combined harvestSmaller combined harvestMixed results on harvest | Field trial3 studies | Not listed |
 Okra |
Bigger combined harvestMixed results on harvest | Field trial2 studies | Not listed |
Sources
7 sources behind the verdicts on this page.
Show all 7 sources
Same family (Cucurbitaceae): Cucumber, Squash & pumpkin, Melon.
What grows well with your watermelon?
Share what worked next to your watermelon and what did not, or ask other growers a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.