Just like people, some plants make great neighbors—and others... not so much. Certain plants compete for nutrients, invite pests, or even stunt your pepper plants’ growth. To keep your garden drama-free and productive, it’s important to know which plants to keep away from your peppers.

Here are 6 plants you should never grow next to your peppers—and why.

1. Fennel – The Solo Artist of the Garden

Let’s start with fennel, the moody diva of the plant world.

Fennel has a reputation for being a loner—and for good reason. It releases allelopathic chemicals into the soil that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants, including peppers. These chemicals act like natural herbicides, preventing other plants from thriving too close.

Fennel also attracts a different crowd of insects than your peppers prefer. So unless you want a garden party where nobody’s getting along, plant fennel in its own space, far away from your peppers and other veggies.

2. Kale and Other Brassicas – Greedy Garden Bullies

We love kale smoothies and roasted Brussels sprouts as much as the next gardener, but your peppers? Not so much.

Brassicas (like kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts) are heavy feeders. They gulp down nutrients, especially nitrogen, at a rate that leaves your peppers feeling starved. Peppers need steady, balanced nutrition—not a garden turf war.

Plus, these plants tend to like cooler weather, while peppers are sun-worshipping heat lovers. Growing them side by side can create a climate conflict in your garden bed, which can lead to stress and lower yields for your peppers.

Tip: Grow brassicas in a separate garden bed with other cool-weather crops, and let your peppers soak up the sun in peace.

3. Beans – Unexpected Frenemies

It may come as a surprise, but beans and peppers aren't best buds, either.

Beans are legumes, which means they pull nitrogen from the air and "fix" it into the soil—a great thing for some plants, but not always for peppers. Too much nitrogen can cause your pepper plants to grow lots of lush, leafy foliage and very few actual peppers.

And here’s the kicker: beans (especially pole beans) can become pushy neighbors. They spread quickly and may shade out your peppers, which love full sunlight. Plus, beans attract certain pests like aphids and spider mites—the same bugs that love to munch on pepper plants.

So unless you're spacing them out properly and watching them closely, keep beans away from your peppers.

4. Potatoes – Underground Trouble

Peppers and potatoes might seem like a natural pair since they're both in the nightshade family—but don’t be fooled. This is a family feud you want no part of.

Potatoes grow underground and require frequent hilling and digging. This can disturb the shallow root systems of your nearby pepper plants. Plus, both potatoes and peppers are susceptible to similar diseases, like blight and wilt.

If you plant them together and one gets sick, it’s like sending out a group text to all the pathogens: “Party at our place!” Suddenly, your entire nightshade patch could be infected.

Keep your potatoes and peppers in separate corners of the garden to avoid cross-contamination and root disturbances.

5. Corn – Tall, Thirsty, and Shadow-Casting

Corn might be the giant of your garden, but it's not a gentle giant when it comes to peppers.

Corn grows tall—really tall—and that creates a problem for your sun-loving pepper plants. Corn casts a shadow that can block out the sunlight your peppers desperately need. Without full sun, your peppers may grow leggy, weak, or stop producing altogether.

Corn is also a water hog and nutrient sucker. It needs tons of fertilizer and moisture to grow strong, which can leave your peppers dry and hungry if they’re planted too close.

To make matters worse, corn attracts pests like corn earworms, which don’t mind snacking on pepper plants, too.

Give corn its own space at the edge of your garden, and let your peppers bask in the sun they crave.

6. Apricot Trees – The Silent Saboteur

This one’s a bit of a curveball—not a plant, but a tree.

If you happen to be growing apricot trees in or near your garden, keep your pepper plants far, far away. Apricot trees and other stone fruit trees are susceptible to a disease called Verticillium wilt—and guess what? So are peppers.

Even if your tree looks healthy, it can carry the fungal pathogen in its roots or surrounding soil. Peppers planted nearby are at high risk of becoming infected, which can cause stunted growth, yellowing leaves, and plant death.

So if you're planting peppers near fruit trees, double-check for disease history—and avoid apricots altogether if you want to play it safe.

So, Who Does Get Along with Peppers?

Now that we’ve gone through the garden “do not invite” list, you might be wondering—who are the best neighbors for peppers?

Here are some friendly companion plants that actually help peppers thrive:

Basil – repels pests and enhances pepper flavor.
Marigolds – deter nematodes and aphids.
Onions and garlic – help repel spider mites and other bugs.
Carrots – use different soil zones and won’t compete with pepper roots.
Spinach and lettuce – low-growing and great for ground cover.

Let’s Grow

Your garden is a mini ecosystem—and just like a good neighborhood, harmony is key. By avoiding these six not-so-compatible plants, you're giving your peppers the best chance to thrive, flower, and fruit their little hearts out.

So before you start planting, do a little garden matchmaking. Your peppers will thank you with a bumper crop and bold, delicious flavor.

Happy planting—and may your garden beds be forever drama-free!

Avoid These 6 Plants Near Your Peppers (They Don’t Get Along!)