Lima Bean Companion Plants: What to Grow (and Avoid) Nearby

After years of growing both bush and pole limas in raised beds, mounded rows, and wide-row plantings, I’ve found that companion planting really does make a difference. Limas thrive with certain neighbors that support warmth, soil health, and pest control—and they struggle beside plants that compete for nutrients or create too much shade. Here’s my experience-based guide to what to plant near your lima beans and what to avoid.

Table of Contents

Best Companion Plants for Lima Beans

Corn

One of the best companions for pole limas. Tall corn provides natural support, while limas add nitrogen to the soil. I’ve grown Christmas limas on sweet corn with great success—just plant the limas once the corn is at least 12–18 inches tall.

Squash (Summer or Winter)

Squash spreads low across the soil, shading weeds and conserving moisture. Limas benefit from cool soil and steady moisture at the roots, especially during pod set. I’ve used this trio—corn, beans, and squash—many times with excellent results.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers share similar warmth and water needs and don’t compete heavily with limas. They also help fill space in wide beds without shading the beans.

Carrots and Beets

Root crops grow quietly beneath the canopy of bush limas without interfering with airflow or sunlight. I like tucking early carrots at the edges of lima rows.

Marigolds, Calendula, and Nasturtiums

These flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Nasturtiums, in particular, help distract aphids—one of the few pests that can trouble limas in hot weather.

Herbs: Dill, Basil, and Savory

Dill draws predatory insects that feed on aphids. Basil improves overall pollinator activity. Summer savory is a traditional companion to beans and, in my experience, helps reduce bean beetle activity.

Good Plants to Rotate With Limas

Because limas fix nitrogen, they prepare the soil well for:

Lettuce
Brassicas (kale, broccoli, cabbage)
Leafy greens
Root crops

I often follow a lima bean bed with fall-planted cabbage or kale because the soil is naturally enriched and easy to cultivate.

Plants to Avoid Near Lima Beans

Alliums (Onions, Garlic, Leeks, Shallots)

These compete with limas and tend to stunt growth. I’ve found lima beans much less vigorous when grown next to onions—the beans simply don’t like the allelopathic compounds alliums release.

Peppers and Tomatoes

These need more fertilizer and more root space than limas. Peppers especially dislike competing with nitrogen-fixing beans. When I planted limas too close to tomatoes one year, both crops suffered.

Fennel

Fennel suppresses many plants around it—including beans. Keep it in a separate bed.

Potatoes

Potatoes take up nutrients and disturb the soil when hilled multiple times. Limas prefer steady, undisturbed soil.

Other Legumes

While some gardeners interplant beans with peas or other legumes, I’ve found yields drop. Limas do better with non-legume neighbors because they don’t have to share nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

My Companion Planting Layout Tip

For a warm-season bed:

Corn in the center or back
Pole limas climbing the corn or a trellis
Squash or cucumbers spreading around the base
Herbs and flowers at the edges for pest control and pollinators

This combination has given me some of my best lima bean harvests—especially in hot summers.

Lima Beans Learning Hub

Start here: How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Lima Beans: A Complete Guide

Introduction to Lima Beans

Planting Lima Beans

Caring for Lima Beans

Harvesting, Storage, and Kitchen

Lima Bean Companion Plants: What to Grow (and Avoid) Nearby

Best Companion Plants for Lima Beans