Tradition
Good
avoidgood
1 chart entry: 1 recommend, 0 advise against.
0 cited, 1 uncited.
Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Amaranthaceae
Bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
FabaceaeCan you plant spinach and beans together?
Charts say yes. Nobody has tested spinach with beans, as far as we could find. The chart entry we found cites no source.
Why we can't give a firm answer
Garden charts recommend it. 1 garden chart entry recommends growing them together. It cites no source. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
List of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
What to plant with spinach and beans
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
Sweet cornWith spinach: 57% more harvestWith beans: 43% more harvest
LettuceWith spinach: Bigger combined harvestWith beans: 48% more harvest
CucumberWith spinach: Better soil and nutrient uptakeWith beans: 14% more harvest
CauliflowerWith spinach: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith beans: Bigger combined harvest
CilantroWith spinach: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith beans: Recommended by garden charts
What to keep away from spinach and beans
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Research
No papers found on this pair.
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
Untested folklore
Companion plants for both spinach and beans
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With spinach | With beans |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet corn | 57% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for spinach and corn | Draws in pest-eating insects, fewer pests and better soil and nutrient uptake43% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 22 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and corn |
| Lettuce | Bigger combined harvestGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for spinach and lettuce | 48% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 2 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and lettuce |
| Cucumber | Better soil and nutrient uptakeGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for spinach and cucumbers | 14% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and cucumbers |
| Cauliflower | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for spinach and cauliflower | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and cauliflower |
| Cilantro | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for spinach and cilantro | No effect on pest-eating insectsField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for beans and cilantro |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
The evidence, with sources
- GoodBean helps SpinachSpinach: helped by beansList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
All neighbours of spinach and of bean, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown spinach and beans together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.