Companion Planting: Sweet Corn
Zea mays
Spacing: 1 per square foot. Mature height: 5-8 ft.
Plant these nearby
- Bush Beans: The classic 'three sisters' pairing. WSU Extension confirms the real mechanism: beans climb corn stalks and fix nitrogen the corn uses. (source)
- Winter Squash: The third 'three sisters' pairing. WSU Extension confirms squash's broad leaves shade the soil, reducing evaporation and suppressing weeds around corn. (source)
Keep these apart
- Tomato: Both attract the same earworm/fruitworm pest.
Common pairings, answered directly
- Can I plant sweet corn next to bush beans?
- Yes. The classic 'three sisters' pairing. WSU Extension confirms the real mechanism: beans climb corn stalks and fix nitrogen the corn uses.
- Can I plant sweet corn next to winter squash?
- Yes. The third 'three sisters' pairing. WSU Extension confirms squash's broad leaves shade the soil, reducing evaporation and suppressing weeds around corn.
- Can I plant sweet corn next to tomato?
- Better not to. Both attract the same earworm/fruitworm pest.
Lay this out in the Garden Designer →

Pin this for later
Companion planting for Sweet Corn: which plants to grow next to it, which to keep apart, and the reason behind each pairing.
Save to Pinterest