I would think that if the tomatoes are on the trellis and the pole beans also on a trellis, there would only be one tomato next to one pole bean. Maybe it wouldn't matter that much. Or you could grow a cuke in between the two.
Keski

Last year I planted snap peas around the perimeter of my tomatos (thought there was a lot of wasted space). I can't say if it helped or hurt the tomatos, but the peas did terrific. They did especially well on the north side of the tomatos, getting good shade so they did better later in the summer. I contained the tomatos in cages and the peas grew on a short (18") trelis so that everything kept to it's own space.

This year I'm planting peas to the north of every one of my tomatos.

Rod

That is exactly what I was planning, Rod! Thanks for the reassurance!
Kim

I generally interpret it as don't plant right next to each other or don't interplant the two. I think six feet is plenty far away.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

I Do not know about planting pole beans and tomatoes next to each other. I did last year and other than trimming back the beans a few times when they reached out into the tomatoes there was no problem. They were planted about 18 inches apart, with the beans on a trellis and the tomatoes in cages. In my other raised bed I had Cucumbers and Tomatoes planted together the same distance apart and they grew fine. Where are you reading that they are not to be planted together sounds like Myth to me? Happy gardening to you.

Curt~

Curt,
I've seen it in various companion planting charts that I googled, as well as Edward Smith's The Vegetable Gardener's Bible. I guess I'm trying to find out what platning distance is safe enough when you're dealing with "enemies".

I'm going to go with my plan of planting pole beans six feet away from my tomotoes and see what happens. I would imagine it should be just fine. The other thing here is that the six foot distance places the pole beans in different planting bed. I have room to plant pole beans in the same bed as the tomatoes, but I'm thinking it would be too close for comfort. I'll stick with one trellis of pole beans.

Thanks all!