How to Rotate Kidney Beans & Tomatoes When Planting

Start the soil amendment process in early spring, around the last frost, to give the soil time to settle before planting. Early digging provides better aeration, while settled soil provides a more balanced foundation for plants.

Choose a large, flat site with bright sun all day and good air movement. Tomatoes and beans need bright sun and air movement for healthy growth, blooming and fruit production.

Amend the soil throughout the plot. Till the top 10 to 12 inches of soil to mix and aerate it, and incorporate 5 to 6 inches of organic compost, rotted manure and leaf mold for nutrition and moisture retention. Organic compost keeps the soil loose and nutritious through the growing season. Turn 6-24-24 or 8-32-16 fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil for better rooting.

Plant tomato and bean seedlings when nighttime temperatures reach 60 to 65 F. These plants both fail in frost and temperatures under 50 F. Plant the tomato seedlings first at 24 to 36 inches in the row. Leave 5 feet between rows.

Plant bush kidney bean seedlings in the empty rows between the tomatoes, at 2 to 4 inches in the row. These bushes maintain smaller growth than tomatoes and thrive in the open space between the larger plants.

Irrigate the entire garden with 2 inches of water every week, and use 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to keep soil moist and warm, and to eliminate weed growth. Neither crop thrives with competition from weeds.

Give each tomato plant a vegetable cage for support. Tie the main vines to the cage's wires with cord ties for training and healthy growth. Bush kidney beans don't require any form of support.