By Ethan BrooksUpdated November 2026
A vegetable garden companion planting chart shows you which crops grow well side by side and which ones compete or attract the same pests. Used well, it helps you group plants by their needs, space them correctly and avoid the pairings that stunt growth. This guide walks you through building and reading one for your own beds.
Start With the Crops You Actually Grow
A chart is only useful if it covers your plants, so begin with a list of what you intend to plant this season. Include the variety type where it matters, since a bush bean and a pole bean have very different spacing. Then note each crop’s main needs: sun hours, water demand and whether it is a heavy, moderate or light feeder.
Shopping for one? See our guide: 6 Best Garden Layout Free Printable Printable Companion Planting Charts (2026): Our Picks.
Group the crops into three columns: those that help each other, those to keep apart and those that are neutral. Most charts follow this structure, and you can build your own in a spreadsheet or on paper. If you want a ready-made starting point, a free companion planting chart for vegetables gives you the pairings to adapt.
Build Your Chart Around Pairings and Spacing
Each row of your chart should list a crop, its good partners, its poor partners and its spacing. Spacing matters as much as the pairing, because two friendly plants packed too tightly still compete for light and water. Check the seed packet or a reliable extension guide for the in-row spacing, then add the spacing to the chart.
| Crop | Good partners | Keep apart from | Typical spacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Basil, carrots, parsley | Potatoes, fennel | 18 to 24 inches |
| Bush beans | Carrots, cucumbers, corn | Onions, garlic | 3 to 4 inches |
| Lettuce | Carrots, radish, strawberries | Cabbage family in close rows | 6 to 8 inches |
| Squash | Corn, nasturtium, radish | Potatoes | 24 to 36 inches |
Treat the table as a starting reference rather than a rulebook. Results depend on your climate, soil and how much sun each bed really gets. For a deeper look at pairings across a full layout, see Vegetable Garden Layout Companion Planting: A Step-by-Step Guide.
Lay Out Your Beds Using the Chart
Once your chart is complete, sketch your beds to scale on graph paper. Mark where tall plants will shade shorter ones, since a tomato on the north side of a bed casts shade over everything south of it. Place heavy feeders in fresh soil and follow them with light feeders in the same bed.
- Measure each bed and draw it on graph paper at one square per foot.
- Place the tallest crops on the north edge so they do not shade the rest.
- Group plants with shared needs for water and sun in the same zone.
- Keep known poor pairings at least one bed or one row apart.
- Label each block on the sketch so you can rotate crops next season.
For compact layouts, our guide to Companion Planting 4×8 Raised Bed Vegetable Garden Layout: A Practical Guide (2026) shows how the same logic works in a small footprint.
Review and Adjust Through the Season
Your chart is a working document. Note what grew well, which pests showed up and where plants crowded each other. Many gardeners find that a pairing listed as helpful performs differently in their soil, so record your observations and revise the chart each year. Keep an eye on Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables: 7 Pairings and How to Use One (2026) for additional pairing ideas that may suit your garden.
Common Mistakes
- Trusting one pairing list without checking spacing and sun needs.
- Planting the same crop family in the same spot year after year.
- Ignoring shade from tall plants like corn, sunflowers and staked tomatoes.
- Overcrowding companion plants so the benefit is lost to competition.
- Forgetting to label beds, which makes rotation planning harder later.
Recommended gear
A simple garden journal helps you track pairings, spacing and results from year to year. Owners often report that a sturdy garden notebook with a weatherproof cover holds up better outdoors than loose paper. View on Amazon
A 25-foot measuring tape makes it easier to mark bed spacing accurately before you plant. View on Amazon
FAQ
Do companion planting charts really improve yields?
They help you avoid clashes and make better use of space, which often improves harvests. Results vary with soil, climate and pest pressure, so treat the chart as a guide and track your own outcomes.
How often should I update my chart?
Review it at the end of each growing season and again before planning the next one. Adjust pairings based on what worked and what struggled in your beds.
Can I use one chart for raised beds and in-ground plots?
Yes, the pairings apply to both. Raised beds may need closer attention to watering and soil depth, so adjust spacing if plants dry out faster.
Conclusion
A vegetable garden companion planting chart turns scattered guesswork into a clear plan for pairings, spacing and bed layout. Start with the crops you grow, sketch your beds to scale and update the chart after every season. With each year of notes, your garden will fit your conditions better.
Ready to choose one?
About Ethan Brooks
Ethan Brooks is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our vegetable & edible gardening guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.
