Peanut Companion Plants

Corn

• When corn is planted alongside legumes, like peanuts, it provides a source of support for the peanut plants. Peanut vines can climb up the corn stalks, which gets the peanuts up off of the ground and makes them easier to pick for harvest. The corn plants also fare better themselves, because the peanut plants add nitrogen to the soil, which encourages corn's growth and increases corn yield.

Squash

• Squash plants are companions to both peanuts and corn. The large, low leaves of squash plants provide a solid stretch of shade on the ground. This shade prevents the development of weeds, which may compete with peanut and corn plants for the soil's nutrients, and also locks in moisture. When squash plants do their job, yields generally increase in both the peanut plants and the corn plants.

Planting in Rows

• When planting peanuts with companion plants, plant the corn first and allow the plants to reach a few inches high before planting peanuts and squash. Plant the peanuts alongside the corn plants about 3 inches from the base of each stalk. The squash should be planted at least 12 inches from the peanuts and corn and the rows should alternate, peanuts and corn and then squash until you have planted the entire garden plot.

Warnings

• Leave at least 18 inches of space between each row of peanuts and companion plants to prevent shading and allow sunlight to reach the base of all the plants. If you do not intend to plant peanuts with companion plants, avoid planting them alongside other legumes. Legume plants attract similar pests and are prone to the same diseases, which can increase the chance of infestation or spread of disease.