About Bean (Bush)
Bean (Bush) fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules — valuable ahead of or beside heavy feeders like corn, brassicas, and fruiting crops.
Three Sisters and kūmara mound traditions both use legumes ahead of hungry crops.
Good companions
Plants that pair well with Bean (Bush) — tap for their guides. Cited sources appear where research is linked in the matrix.
Three Sisters polyculture: corn provides a living trellis for pole beans while beans supply nitrogen.
Squash PolycultureIn Three Sisters polyculture, squash shades soil while beans climb corn and fix nitrogen for all three.
CarrotListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CucumberListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Eggplant Nitrogen fixationBeans provide nitrogen for fruiting eggplant in long-season beds.
Potato Nitrogen fixationBeans fix nitrogen ahead of or beside heavy-feeding potatoes — a common rotation pairing in NZ kitchen gardens.
RadishListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
NasturtiumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
AgeratumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
AlyssumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Black-Eyed SusanListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
BuckwheatListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CatmintListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Swiss ChardListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
ChrysanthemumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Cleome (Spider Flower)Listed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Coneflower (Echinacea)Listed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CoreopsisListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
DahliaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
HollyhockListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
LuffaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
LupineListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
MizunaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
PennyroyalListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
PetuniaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
PhaceliaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Pyrethrum DaisyListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
RhubarbListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
SalsifyListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
ScorzoneraListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Jerusalem ArtichokeListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
VerbenaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
YaconListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
+ 6 more in the matrix
Avoid planting together
Known poor neighbours — spacing apart or rotating beds reduces shared pest and disease pressure.
Alliums may inhibit legume nodulation and growth — a well-documented pairing to avoid in the same row.
GarlicListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Fennel AllelopathyFennel allelopathy can inhibit legume growth — keep fennel beds 2 m+ from beans and peas.
Sunflower AllelopathySunflowers exude allelopathic compounds that can inhibit bean germination — plant beans upwind or 1 m+ away.
Cabbage Nitrogen fixationLegumes fix nitrogen useful before brassica plantings — avoid crowding mature cabbage heads with climbing beans.
Broccoli Nitrogen fixationBeans supply nitrogen for heavy-feeding broccoli — interplant at row ends or in prior-season green manure.
Kale CompetitionAvoid climbing beans on kale — shading and aphid bridges reduce kale quality; use prior-season legume nitrogen instead.
LeekListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
+ 6 more in the matrix
Growing tips
- Inoculation is rarely needed in established garden soil with legume history.
- Provide trellis support for peas and pole beans before plants climb.
- Cut fava tops at flowering for green manure if not harvesting pods.
Use the compatibility matrix
Filter to Bean (Bush) to see green (beneficial), red (incompatible), and grey (neutral) for every pair among 162 plants. Desktop: hover cells. Mobile: tap for details.