Companion Planting Spacing Calculator

About this calculator

Companion planting pairs two crops that benefit each other — through pest deterrence, shade sharing, nitrogen fixing, or efficient use of space, as in the classic “three sisters” combination of corn, beans and squash — but each crop still has its own recommended spacing based on its mature size and root spread. When interplanting, a practical rule is to use the average of the two crops’ individual spacing recommendations, giving both plants enough room without wasting bed space on the wider of the two spacings alone.

Once that combined spacing is set, dividing your row length by it tells you how many plants fit along the row, which is exactly the planning gardeners need before starting seeds or transplants for an intercropped bed. Enter each crop’s recommended spacing and your row length to plan your companion planting layout.