Best and Worst Companion Plants for Corn

Consider companion planting if you're planning to plant corn in your garden to help it grow robust and healthy. Maize was one of the first examples of companion planting with Native American tribes growing corn, climbing beans, and winter squash together to enhance the productivity of each crop. 

From vegetables to fragrant herbs to flowers, here's a companion planting guide to help you select what to grow besides corn:

1. Borage - Borage is a flower that attracts both helpful insects and pest worms away from your maize.

2. Cucumber- Cucumber grows out along the ground like a vine plant, providing ground cover for corn while also preventing weeds and keeping the soil fresh.

3. Dill- Dill is a fragrant plant that attracts helpful insects such as pollinators and parasitic wasps, which will aid in the pollination of corn and the control of other pests.

4. Marigolds- Marigolds are a popular companion plant because they repel several insects, including aphids, which are a major issue on corn stalks.

5. Melons- Melons extend out along the ground like a vine plant to offer ground cover for maize, suppress weeds, and keep the soil wet.

6. Mint- The perfume of many mint plants (such as hyssop and sage) deters grazing animals such as deer, who are a hazardous pest to maize crops.

7. Nasturtiums- Nasturtium blooms are attractive to aphids. Many gardeners put nasturtiums a short distance away from their vegetable garden to draw pests away from their crops, which may sound illogical.

8. Pole Beans- Pole beans (also known as green beans) are one of the "Three Sisters" and are an excellent choice for growing with corn since they offer much-needed nitrogen to the soil. As a result, instead of requiring a trellis, the beans may use the corn stalks as a support system.

9. Thyme- Corn earworms, a frequent pest in cornfields, are repelled by thyme, a fragrant plant.

10. Winter Squash- Squash vines, one of the "Three Sisters," is a classic choice for growing maize plants because they act as a "natural mulch," preventing weeds and retaining soil moisture. Raccoons are supposed to be deterred from approaching the corn by the spiky vines.

Plants to Avoid Growing with Corn:

1. Tomatoes- Corn and tomatoes are both preys for corn earworm and tomato hornworm, and planting them together might attract even more of these pests because tomatoes and maize are both strong feeders, they will compete for nutrients in the soil.

2. Brinjal- The tomato hornworm is attracted to both maize and eggplant, and planting them together might attract these pests even more.

3. Fennel- Fennel is a garden crop that doesn't grow well with most other vegetable garden plants thus, most home gardeners avoid it. While it can attract helpful insects, it can also hinder the development of most other plants, slowing or even killing them.

4. Cabbage family- Corn isn't a good match for broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, or kohlrabi because the corn casts too much shade on the sun-loving plants, and they're all heavy feeders, so corn and cabbage-family plants will fight for nutrients in the soil.