Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 8 Plants You Should Never Grow Next to Corn From fennel to kale, here are eight plants to keep away from your corn. By Emily Hayes Emily Hayes Emily Hayes has worked as a reporter, writer, and editor for more than a decade. In addition to writing for MarthaStewart.com, Emily is an editor with U.S. News and World Report. She graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and is based in metro Atlanta. Editorial Guidelines Published on July 26, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images Sweet corn is a favorite among gardeners—it’s relatively easy to grow, provides a hearty yield, and often has a decent shelf life once harvested. A healthy corn crop is essential for your favorite summer recipes—and it’s crucial to surround it with the correct garden neighbors. The best companion crops will add vital nutrients to the soil, deter pests, and optimize growing conditions. For instance, green beans, squash, and corn are great companion plants and, when planted together, are commonly known as "the three sisters." "Green beans fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and store it in their root nodules, which can then be utilized by the corn,” says Josh Marr, lead farmer at Farmscape, California's largest urban gardening company. "Squash leaves provide shade for the corn roots, protecting them from the harsh summer sun." But certain crops will hinder your corn harvest, whether they are heavy feeders and require significant nutrients or attract the same types of pests. According to our experts, here’s a list of plants to avoid in order to optimize your corn crop. Josh Marr, lead farmer at Farmscape, California's largest urban gardening company Mariah Henry, director of urban agriculture at Carolina Farm Trust Use Our Companion Planting Chart to Grow a Thriving Vegetable Garden 01 of 08 Tomatoes sololos / Getty Images While these two may complement each other nicely on the plate, putting them together in a garden will be detrimental to both crops. "Both corn and tomatoes are heavy feeders, meaning they compete for water and nutrients with their extensive root systems," says Marr. "Additionally, both crops require direct sunlight, and planting them together can inhibit optimal sunlight and air penetration." Consider planting your tomatoes near basil, chives, and garlic instead. The Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes, Plus Tips to Make Sure Yours Thrive 02 of 08 Broccoli Laurence Mouton / Getty Images "Corn can grow anywhere from 5 to 12 feet tall, in which they provide a great amount of shade," says Mariah Henry, director of urban agriculture at Carolina Farm Trust. "Avoid planting crops like broccoli that require full sun." Beets, garlic, and onions make optimal companions when growing broccoli. 8 Best Broccoli Companion Plants for a Healthier Crop 03 of 08 Eggplant Yuliia Bilousova When planning out your garden, Henry says to watch out for crops that may attract the same pest, which can increase the insect population and damage both crops. "Another crop to avoid planting near sweet corn is eggplant because they are heavy feeders and attract tomato hornworms," she says. Eggplant should instead be planted near tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. 04 of 08 Brussels Sprouts Little Kiss Photography Whereas corn is a warm-season crop, Brussels sprouts are considered a cool-season vegetable and make poor companion crops. "Brussels sprouts need consistent and stable cool to cold weather to grow well,” says Marr. How to Grow Brussels Sprouts at Home—Plus the Secret to Ensuring a Healthy Crop Each Year 05 of 08 Kale Wera Rodsawang/Getty Images Not only will kale take needed nutrients away from your corn, but it also requires a great deal of sun to flourish. Kale is also best grown during cooler temperatures. "Corn thrives in the hot temperatures of summer, whereas kale can become bitter and more susceptible to pests and diseases in the heat," says Marr. Consider growing kale near sage instead, as the sage will repel common pests. 13 Shade-Loving Vegetables That Flourish With Little to No Sun 06 of 08 Cabbage PhotoAlto/Laurence Mouton / Getty Images Nitrogen is essential to a successful corn crop, and cabbage is yet another vegetable that will compete for the available nitrogen in the soil. "Heavy feeders tend to uptake many nutrients and any competition can hinder its harvest," says Henry. "Planting a crop like beans or clover will provide additional nitrogen for corn." Like kale and Brussels sprouts, cabbage also needs cooler temperatures and won’t do well under the summer heat corn requires to flourish. Consider planting celery near your cabbage to deter unwanted pests. 24 Vegetables to Plant in Your Fall Garden That Will Survive—and Flourish—in the Cold 07 of 08 Fennel Getty Images It’s not just corn—this aromatic vegetable is a poor companion to almost every other vegetable. Fennel is allelopathic, which means it can inhibit other plants from germinating, and most experts recommend not planting it at all or, at the very least, keeping it well separated from your other crops. 10 Plants You Should Never Grow Together, According to Experts 08 of 08 Kohlrabi The Spruce / Heidi Kolsky Like others in the cabbage family, your corn will compete for important nutrients with nearby kohlrabi—not to mention block out the required sunlight needed for the kohlrabi to flourish. Consider planting thyme to deter pests from your kohlrabi. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit