10 Companion Plants for Growing Corn (with Pictures)

Companion planting is a fantastic way to assist your crops increase stronger, more healthy, and taller. This is simply because most companion vegetation aid conserve dampness in the soil, add nutrition, and avert the ground from overheating. You should, nevertheless, observe that not all crops can be companions some have adverse results on some crops when developed in the exact same area.

If you want the greatest corn from your backyard garden, you must take into account expanding it with some companion crops. In this post, we’ll go over ten ideal companions for corn, their goal, and what at intervals to develop them.

Benefits of Companion Planting

Companion planting is all about pairing certain vegetation and crops collectively for optimum gain. Some plants draw in pollinators, whilst other individuals repel pests and avert the crops from contracting some conditions. With corn, companion planting allows you to preserve place.

When crops grow, they take a great deal of vitamins and minerals from the soil, which leaves the gardener with a great deal of perform at the finish of the period. Well, some companion crops insert vitamins and minerals to the floor, which aids the soil continue being abundant in nutrients and as a result supporting healthier vegetation. Corn vegetation also reward other crops for illustration, they act as an excellent trellis for cucumbers and other vegetation in the very same growing room.

10 Companion Plants for Corn

1. Basil

basil plant in a pot indoor
Image Credit: seeandfeel2017, Pixabay
Scientific name Ocimum basilicum
Growing pattern On the perimeter
Benefit Prevents weevils from attacking the corn

Planting basil all around the corn field or next to the corn garden repels weevils and other pests, which assures the grain will be healthful. Maintain in brain that weevils take in the corn kernels when the maize is still in the yard, impacting the conclude item. So, for extra reward, pluck 1 or two basil leaves often, rip them into tiny items and scatter them close to the foundation of every maize stalk.


2. Potatoes

potato plantation
Image Credit: WikimediaImages, Pixabay
Scientific name Solanum tuberosum
Growing pattern Between the maize crops
Benefit Adds nutrients to the soil

Planting potatoes in the identical room as corn makes use of the added space. Corn and potatoes utilize various nutrition in the soil and, therefore, can co-exist. Your corn and potatoes will get elevated generate from minimizing the susceptibility to some potato diseases.

Corn also gives the potatoes important security from the harsh sunlight enabling them to grow to maturity. Guarantee you plant the potatoes when the corn develops youthful ears and lower it down close to the potatoes right after harvesting the corn.


3. Pumpkins

large pumpkin on the vine
Image Credit: Max Lindenthaler, Shutterstock
Scientific name Cucurbita moschata
Growing pattern Next to the corn
Benefit Acts as natural mulch

Pumpkins are a standard choice to grow with corn because they serve as mulch and avert the soil from overheating, particularly during summer. The vines also give ground go over, which helps prevent weeds from growing and consequently conserves soil dampness and vitamins.

They also prevent tiny animals and rodents from approaching the corn and eating the grains. It is effortless to plant pumpkins given that all you need are the seeds plant them next to the corn crops and allow the vines distribute.


4. Radishes

radishes planting
Image Credit: Piqsels
Scientific name Raphanus sativus
Growing pattern Next to the corn
Benefit Deters pests such as beetles and weevils

These root vegetables can hold weevils and corn borers from your vegetation when planted up coming to the corn crops. They make a scent that most pests discover unappealing. The very best component is that radishes are an straightforward crop to develop, and they mature fairly rapidly in underneath 30 times. If you want to have radishes as companion crops for your corn till it matures, make certain you use succession planting methods.


5. Pole Beans

pole beans
Image Credit: Robinotof, Shutterstock
Scientific name Phaseolus vulgaris 
Growing pattern A couple of inches from the corn
Benefit Offers support to the maize stalk

Pumpkins, corn, and pole beans are the three sisters’ planting trio and have been implemented by farmers for hundreds of a long time. The relation among the pole beans and the corn is mutually helpful the pole beans climb on the stalk of the corn plant to access daylight and, although carrying out so, also stabilize the corn plant and stop it from slipping over when the cob matures.

There are distinct kinds of pole beans, and you need to do your research just before picking the range to develop with your corn. “Rattlesnake” pole beans are the best to develop given that they can swiftly wind close to the corn stalks and really do not weigh considerably.


6. Dill

dill herbs
Image Credit: MMWoolly, Pixabay
Scientific name Anethum graveolens L
Growing pattern A few inches from the corn
Benefit Attracts pollinators

Dill is an aromatic herb, thus attracting pollinators this kind of as bees and butterflies to your garden and increasing the produce. It also keeps pest amounts down. It is easy to plant and care for, and you can plant it in succession to make certain it’s there until the corn matures.

Make sure you plant dill straight in between the rows of maize since it doesn’t transplant properly. Although it does not require especially abundant soils to develop and flourish, it demands further h2o and fertilizers, which is equivalent to the expanding conditions of corn.


7. Mint

mint plants
Image Credit: photosforyou, Pixabay
Scientific name Mentha piperita L
Growing pattern Around the corn perimeter
Benefit Repels animals that eat growing corn

The aroma developed by mint repels grazing animals this kind of as goats and deer that feed on the growing corn. Mint requires a quick time to grow and has many makes use of about the residence. The shade from the corn also prevents it from wilting because of to publicity to the hot solar.


8. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums
Image Credit: pasja1000, Pixabay
Scientific name Tropaeolum majus
Growing pattern A short distance away from the corn
Benefit Repels pests

Nasturtiums are lovely bouquets nonetheless, most men and women avoid planting them since they entice aphids. When planted a quick distance absent from the corn, the aphids are drawn to them and really do not assault the corn. They also appeal to pollinators these kinds of as butterflies and bees, thus rising yields.


9. Cucumber

cucumber growing in the garden
Image Credit: Alexei_other, Pixabay
Scientific name Cucumis sativus
Growing pattern A few inches from the corn
Benefit Keeps the soil moist

Cucumbers are vine plants and function the very same way as squash and pumpkin. Plant them a handful of inches from the corn with sufficient space for the vines to distribute. The vines unfold out and provide ground protect for the corn, which helps prevent weeds from increasing and retains the soil moist.

Cucumbers are straightforward to treatment for and take a short period to mature—about two months. For maximum advantage, take into account growing them in succession till the corn matures.


10. Marigolds

African Marigold
Image Credit: sarangib, Pixabay
Scientific name Tagetes erecta
Growing pattern A few inches from the corn
Benefit Repels pests

Marigold is a common selection for a companion plant given that it repels several pests, which includes aphids and weevils. Planting them close to your corn vegetation ensures they won’t be attacked by any pests or even some tiny rodents.

Plants to Avoid

Just as there are very good companion crops to develop along with corn, some inhibit corn’s ability to grow appropriately. They include the following:

  • Tomatoes typically use a lot of water to grow and compete with corn for the available water resources. They are also targets for the corn earworm and the tomato hornworm. Growing them in close proximity can attract these pests in greater numbers.
  • Eggplants are also targeted by the tomato hornworm, which also attacks corn, and planting them in close proximity can attract these pests even more.
  • Fennel does not grow well with most other vegetables and is not recommended as a companion crop for corn. Although it attracts pollinators, it also acts as an inhibitor to other plants and stunts their growth.

Conclusion

Companion planting is a single of the most effective methods of creating a harmonious yard. Now that you know the vegetation that can be planted with corn and their reasons, you can get pleasure from a effectively-well balanced garden and accomplish substantial crop yields. Make sure you get your seeds and seedlings from a reliable resource to stay away from spreading ailments to your backyard garden.

“Sources”

Featured Image Credit: Henry Barnes, Unsplash

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