By Emily ParkerUpdated November 2026
A companion planting vegetables chart PDF gives you a quick reference for which crops grow well side by side and which ones should be kept apart. This guide shows you how to find or build a reliable chart, read its pairings correctly, and turn it into a planting plan for your beds. By the end, you will have a printable reference and a clear method for using it.
What a Companion Planting Chart Should Include
Not every chart is equally useful. A good PDF lists each vegetable alphabetically, names its recommended partners and its poor neighbors, and notes the reason behind each pairing. Charts that only list “good” and “bad” plants without explanation are harder to trust and harder to adapt to your conditions.
Shopping for one? See our guide: 3 Best Companion Planting Books for Vegetable Gardeners (2026). Plan for a Companion Planting Garden Design: 7 Steps to Layout Beds goes further into this.
Look for these details before you print:
- Plant spacing or the number of plants per square foot
- Whether the pairing is about pest control, pollination, shade, or nutrient use
- A note on the source or the growing method it assumes, such as in-ground rows or square foot gardening
- A date or version number, so you know it reflects current recommendations
How to Read the Pairings
Most chart entries fall into three categories. Beneficial pairs share a pest-deterrent scent, spread the canopy to shade heat-loving crops, or attract pollinators. Neutral pairs have little effect either way. Antagonistic pairs compete hard for the same nutrients or share a disease that can spread between them.
Treat the chart as a starting point, not a rulebook. Many “companion” claims come from observation rather than controlled trials, so check the logic. For example, a pest-repelling herb near a brassica makes sense; a claim that two plants “help each other grow” without a mechanism deserves more skepticism.
Build Your Planting Plan Using the Chart
Once you have a chart, convert it into a bed layout. Follow these steps:
- Sketch your bed to scale on graph paper, using one square per square foot or per 6 inches of row.
- Mark the spacing for each crop, typically 12 to 18 inches for most full-size vegetables and 4 to 6 inches for leafy greens.
- Place a beneficial partner next to each main crop where the spacing allows.
- Keep known antagonists at least one bed or one row apart.
- Note your planting dates so that companions reach maturity at compatible times.
If you grow tomatoes, see the Tomato Companion Planting Chart: Best Partners, Spacing and Pitfalls for crop-specific detail. For a layout approach, the Raised Bed Companion Planting Vegetable Garden Layout: A Step-by-Step Guide walks through arranging beds around pairings.
Printing and Using Your Chart Outdoors
Print the PDF on a single page so you can tape it to a shed wall or slide it into a plastic sleeve. Add notes in pencil for your own soil, sun exposure and local pest problems. Many gardeners keep a season log beside the chart to record which pairings worked. Over two or three seasons, that log is often more useful than any printed list.
For a broader comparison of formats and layouts, the Free Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026) and Printable Companion Planting Chart: How to Build and Use One (2026) cover different ways to set up your reference.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming every “good neighbor” listing applies in every climate or season.
- Ignoring spacing, which can matter more than the pairing itself.
- Planting a companion too close, so the two compete for water and nutrients.
- Using an undated chart that reflects outdated advice.
- Forgetting that rotation and disease control still apply even when companions are well chosen.
Recommended gear
A few supplies make a printed chart easier to use in the garden. A clear plastic sheet protector keeps the page dry during watering. A small clipboard or garden journal lets you record dates and results. A weatherproof marker lets you write on the sleeve without smearing.
- Plastic sheet protector to shield the printed chart from moisture: View on Amazon
- Weather-resistant clipboard for taking notes beside the beds: View on Amazon
- Permanent marker for labeling beds and sleeves: View on Amazon
FAQ
Is a companion planting chart PDF accurate?
Accuracy varies by source. Check whether the chart cites its reasoning and whether it is recent. Use it as a guide and confirm results in your own garden.
How far apart should companion plants be?
Follow the spacing for each crop, usually 12 to 18 inches for large vegetables and 4 to 6 inches for greens. Companions still need enough room to avoid competing for water and nutrients.
Do companion plants replace crop rotation?
No. Companion planting helps with pests and pollination, but rotating crop families each year remains the main way to reduce soil-borne disease.
Conclusion
A companion planting vegetables chart PDF is most useful when you read it critically, match its pairings to your spacing, and record what actually happens in your beds. Print one, sketch your layout, and keep notes for the next season. Over time, your own observations will be the most reliable chart you have.
Related reading
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About Emily Parker
Emily Parker is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our vegetable & edible gardening guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
