Can Beans and Tomatoes Be Planted Together in the Garden?

Companion planting is the practice of strategically planting different crops together to maximize garden space and reap certain benefits that the plants provide each other A common companion planting combination is beans and tomatoes But is it really effective or safe to plant beans and tomatoes together?

The short answer is yes! Beans and tomatoes make great companion plants in the garden when planted properly. When grown together, these vegetable plants can boost each other’s growth and production. There are some things to keep in mind, but with the right approach, you can enjoy a bountiful bean and tomato harvest from the same bed.

Why Beans and Tomatoes Work Well Together

There are a few key reasons why interplanting green beans and tomatoes is an advantageous companionship in the garden:

• Nutrient symbiosis – Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, meaning they take nitrogen from the air and convert it into a usable form that plants can absorb from the soil This nitrogen enrichment benefits neighboring plants like tomatoes Meanwhile, tomatoes need less nitrogen but higher levels of phosphorus. As beans tap into soil nitrogen, more phosphorus is freed up for the tomatoes.

• Pest protection – Research shows that planting beans and tomatoes together can deter some common insect pests, lowering damage to both plants. Beans help repel aphids, beetles, and other pests that target tomatoes.

• Space efficiency – When dealing with limited garden space, interplanting vining beans and trellised tomatoes maximizes production in the same plot. The beans fill in bare ground and don’t compete much for light and nutrients.

• Flavor enhancement – Anecdotal evidence suggests that beans and tomatoes grown together, especially heirloom varieties, produce noticeably more flavorful beans and tomatoes. More research is needed, but many gardeners swear by the taste benefits.

By leveraging these symbiotic effects, many vegetable gardeners find they are able to grow happier, healthier bean and tomato plants close together.

Tips for Growing Beans and Tomatoes as Companions

If you want to try planting beans and tomatoes together, follow these tips for success

• Pick appropriate varieties – Choose compact, upright tomato varieties and bush or pole bean varieties with smaller vines. Very large tomato cultivars and beans with aggressive vines are not the best match.

• Mind sunlight needs – Beans need full sunlight. Don’t plant them on the north side of tomatoes where they will be shaded. Plant beans to the south or in between tomato plants.

• Space and trellis properly – Give tomato plants adequate space from each other and use trellises to contain their growth. Bush beans can grow in between with 6-8 inches spacing. For pole beans, trellis them on the end of the bed or between tomato plants.

• Time plantings carefully – Plant beans and tomatoes around the same time. However, beans germinate faster so you may need to delay planting beans by 1-2 weeks after transplanting tomatoes.

• Use raised beds – Planting in raised beds improves drainage and provides loose, nitrogen-rich soil that benefits the beans and tomatoes. Amend beds with compost.

• Rotate each year – Don’t plant beans and tomatoes in the exact same spot together every single year. Rotate them to different beds to prevent nutrient deficiencies.

• Weed and water diligently – Stay on top of weeding and provide regular watering, especially once bean and tomato plants start producing fruit. Proper care is still required when companion planting.

With some planning and care, beans and tomatoes can be very successfully grown next to each other. Monitor your plants and make any needed adjustments to support their health and productivity.

Top Varieties to Grow Together

Some of the best varieties to try co-planting are:

Bush beans

• Provider
• Contender
• Top Crop
• Magnum

Pole beans

• Blue Lake
• Kentucky Wonder
• Scarlet Runner

Dwarf tomato varieties

• Early Girl
• Sweet 100
• Bush Big Boy
• Patio Princess
• tumbling varieties like Tumbler

Cherry tomatoes

• Sungold
• Sweet 100
• Juliet
• Supersweet 100

These varieties have compact growth habits but very prolific yields. When planted together using proper spacing and supports, you can maximize garden real estate and can or freeze bountiful harvests of beans and tomatoes.

Common Companion Planting Setups

Here are two common arrangements for planting beans and tomatoes:

Tomatoes in center rows, bush beans on sides

• Plant determinate tomatoes in single rows with 18-24 inches between plants, staked or trellised.

• In the bare strips on each side, plant bush bean varieties in staggered rows 12-18 inches apart.

• Bush beans can also go in between the tomato plants if adequate space.

Tomatoes on ends, pole beans in center

• Plant staked indeterminate tomato plants in single rows on the ends of the bed.

• Down the center, set up poles or trellises in a row. Plant pole beans on each side of the trellis row.

• Pole beans will climb up the trellises while tomatoes grow on the outside rows.

Both arrangements allow for intensive planting while giving each plant enough room to thrive. The beans fix nitrogen while protecting the tomatoes from pests and filling in space that would otherwise go unused.

Things to Watch Out For

While generally a beneficial companionship, there are a couple factors to watch out for when interplanting beans and tomatoes:

• Certain bean diseases like mosaic can also infect tomatoes, so planting them together increases risk somewhat. Use resistant varieties and inspect plants frequently.

• Pole beans that grow too vigorously can sometimes outcompete tomato plants for sunlight and nutrients. Manage them carefully.

• Allow enough space between plants for air circulation to prevent fungus issues.

• Determinate tomatoes will need less eventual space than indeterminate, so choose tomato types accordingly.

With attentive care and proper maintenance, issues are unlikely. The symbiotic advantages typically outweigh the risks when planting compatible bean and tomato varieties together.

Enjoy a More Efficient and Productive Garden

Beans and tomatoes are two of the most widely grown vegetables, prized for their nutrition and versatility. By planting bean and tomato companion plants together thoughtfully, you can increase productivity in the same amount of garden space.

Leverage the soil benefits, pest protection, and plant interactions that beans and tomatoes provide for each other. Follow the planting guidelines covered here for the best results. With the right varieties and setup, you can enjoy more bountiful, better-tasting bean and tomato crops from your companion planted garden.