Eggplant

Always research plant families when gardening. Peppers are a member of the nightshade family—a group that also includes eggplant. It might seem like a good idea to plant similar plant families together, but that’s not necessarily the case. "Other members of the nightshade family, such as potatoes and eggplant, have similar diseases and attract similar insects that will transfer to peppers," says Dick Zondag, master gardener, horticulturist, and owner of Jung Seed Company.

Tomatoes

Everybody loves tomatoes in the garden, but they’re another nightshade that probably shouldn’t share close space with your peppers. This doesn’t mean that you can’t grow multiple types of nightshades in your garden—they just need enough room, according to Zondag. "If planted in a different part of the garden, they may not have as much trouble as they would have if planted together," he says.

Corn

Peppers thrive in full sun and need at least six hours of direct sun per day, so you’ll want to scope out a pepper planting location that isn’t going to be shaded throughout the day. "Taller vegetables planted in the garden might [include] sweet corn," says Zondag. Think ahead about what other taller garden crops might eventually shade out your peppers as the season progresses.

Pole Beans and Peas

These ambitious plants love to grow tall and climb, but vine crops, if trained on trellises, would shade the plants, says Zondag. If you plan to grow pole beans or peas on trellises, keep them a sufficient distance from your peppers so they aren’t inadvertently shaded.

Hedges and Trees

Don’t forget about other sources of shade. "If your garden is planted near hedges or trees that shade your garden, [the peppers] should be planted where they get minimal shading," says Zondag. Watch your garden throughout the day as the sun moves, as certain areas of the garden will receive shade at different times. The shade from that lilac bush may be perfect for a lemonade in the garden, but your peppers won’t appreciate it!