Some varieties of herbs and vegetables are natural companions and help each other in the garden. For instance, Native American tribes learned early that planting corn, pole beans and squash together resulted in great success. This trio was known as "The Three Sisters". Each plant helped the other two in its own way: the corn plant was tall and sturdy enough for the beans to climb upon and grow; the beans fixed nitrogen into the surrounding soil for the other plants; and the squash shaded the ground, keeping in vital moisture. In addtion, the squash plants have prickly stems which helped to discourage hungry pests like raccoons from eating the corn.
The companion chart shows what varieties can be planted together and which plants should be avoided for each variety. It is always recommended that crops be rotated each year to keep the soil fertile and free from disease.
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