These 27 best tomato companion plants will help your garden thrive! From bountiful buckets of cherry tomatoes to the cultivation of unique heritage varieties, the versatility of this crop knows no bounds. Whether your garden is producing whopper tomatoes or growing tomatoes from seeds indoors, the tomato holds a special place in every gardener’s heart.
That’s why tomatoes deserve the protective embrace and nutrient-rich support offered by these strategic companion plants for tomato plants, ensuring a garden that not only survives but truly flourishes.
Best Tomato Companion Plants
As gardening enthusiasts embrace innovative techniques like raised bed gardens and polyculture, the quest for sustainable living gains momentum. Growing your own food becomes more than a pastime—it’s a commitment to freshness and organic cultivation. In a world grappling with food shortages, droughts, and soaring grocery costs, nurturing your own food supply becomes a beacon of self-sufficiency.
Yet, the battle against insect pests and diseases remains, making companion planting a strategic ally in safeguarding your precious food-producing plants.
It’s time to take advantage of the benefits of these 28 tomato companion plants to enhance the vitality of your cherished tomatoes.
What Are Companion Plants
But what exactly are companion plants, and why does your cherished tomato plant crave their company? Companion plants are the unsung heroes grown in close proximity to tomatoes, bestowing various benefits upon their juicy tomato companions.
Some play the role of enticing pollinators; imagine your tomato surrounded by vibrant flowering plants, beckoning bees that will also grace your tomato blossoms. Others, like legumes such as beans and peas, act as nutrient providers, fixing nitrogen levels with their roots to satiate the tomato’s voracious appetite for rich soil.
Some plants emit odors that repel menacing pests, serving as vigilant guardians between your tomato plants. Picture a thriving polyculture garden, a vibrant mosaic of vegetables and flowers interwoven to create a resilient haven for your tomatoes. No longer confined to rigid rows, this garden arrangement mitigates the risk of pests and diseases wreaking havoc on an entire tomato crop.
Companion Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects
Alyssum: Attracts parasitic wasps with white flowers, providing control over aphids. Acts as a ground cover, protecting soil from water evaporation, leaving more moisture for your tomatoes to hydrate themselves.
Marigolds: Known for deterring harmful insects, especially whiteflies. Many backyard gardeners have been using these tomato companion plants for years due to their pest-repelling properties.
Zinnias: Adds color to the garden and attracts pollinators. Strong stems make them a landing spot for butterflies and transform your garden into a lively haven where the fluttering visitors find refuge amid the colorful Zinnia blooms.
Oregano: Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators when allowed to flower, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem. For best results, plant extra oregano as a companion plant for tomatoes so that when you harvest this herb you can still leave some behind to flower and serve a bigger purpose in your tomato garden.
Nasturtiums: Attracts aphids away from tomatoes and serves as a source of pollination. Edible flowers can be added to salads.
Calendula: Attracts pollinators, and is believed to deter pest insects. Has medicinal properties and can be used in salves for minor scrapes or burns.
Borage: The edible leaves and purple flowers of borage can attract pollinators. They are also thought to deter tomato hornworms when grown between tomato plants.
Thyme: Deters yellow-striped armyworms and provides living mulch around tomato plants. Keep in mind that thyme is a perennial so if you are moving your tomatoes to a better location with rich soil, be sure to dig up this tomato companion plant so your tomatoes can continue to reap the benefits.
Dill: Dill is known for being one of the best companion plants for tomatoes because it helps control braconid wasps which can destroy your tomatoes. This is because it provides nectar for beneficial insects like braconid wasps and ladybugs, which help control aphids and pest caterpillars by eating them. Just keep in mind that dill can release a chemical that may stunt the growth of tomatoes.
Learn how to harvest dill without killing the plant here.
Bee Balm: Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, promoting better pollination for tomatoes. It has also been thought to improve the flavor of your harvested tomatoes.
Chives: When this herb develops flowers they have been known to repel aphids, mites and other harmful insects while attracting beneficial pollinators.
Mint: Repels pests like ants and aphids, contributing to a pest-resistant environment around tomatoes. Just be sure to control the spread as these plants can easily take over. Some backyard gardeners prefer to grow them in pots near their tomato garden to avoid this issue while still reaping the benefits of this companion plant for tomatoes.
Plants that Attract Pollinators
Sunflowers: Attracts pollinators like bees, benefiting tomatoes and other vegetables in the garden. Plus, these flowers are the plant that keeps on giving. Learn how to harvest sunflower seeds to plant, here.
Winter Rye: Used as a cover crop, protects soil from erosion, suppresses weed growth, and acts as mulch for tomatoes.
Beans (Peas and Beans): Beans are used as a companion plant for tomatoes because they can fix the nitrogen in the soil, replenishing nutrients for tomatoes, which are heavy nitrogen feeders.
Celery: Acts as a natural pest repellent and provides shade, creating a favorable environment for tomatoes. Plus, they have similar nutrient requirements and are not impacted by the same diseases.
Parsley: Attracts beneficial insects and can improve the overall biodiversity in the garden. Parsley also improves the flavor of tomatoes and can increase growth in tomato plants.
Learn How to Grow Parsley from Seed Indoors here.
Cilantro: When allowed to flower, attracts pollinators. Flowers can be added to various dishes for a peppery flavor. Since cilantro requires nitrogen-rich soil, you may be interested in learning how to add nitrogen to soil for cheap.
Plants with Pest-Repelling Properties
Basil: Enhances the flavor of tomatoes and may deter thrips and tomato hornworms by masking the tomato scent. Basil may also help tomatoes produce more fruit when planted nearby.
Garlic: Effective against red spider mites and may help control late blight when used as a spray on tomato plants.
Radishes: Serves as a sacrificial plant for flea beetles, protecting young tomato plants from damage. If flea beetles become a problem in your garden, they will destroy your radishes but planting them next to tomatoes will protect the tomato plants as flea beetles prefer radishes.
Carrots: Long roots break up soil, allowing more water and oxygen to reach tomato roots. Tomatoes provide shade for carrots and since tomato plants omit solanine, they will help prevent common pests from destroying your carrots.
Onions: Deters pests such as aphids and spider mites, plus they can contribute to a healthier tomato crop. If your garden has a thrip problem it may be best to avoid planting them as they will leave your onions and destroy your tomatoes.
Learn How to Make the Best Potting Soil for Tomatoes
Plants Providing Shade or Other Benefits
Lettuce: Provides shade for the soil, preventing excessive water evaporation, and complements tomatoes in a polyculture garden. Planting lettuce as a happy companion plant for tomatoes is a great way to keep the weeds under control and keep the soil moist.
Sage: Sage, with its bushy and aromatic foliage, not only serves as a pest-repelling companion for tomatoes but can also provide valuable shade to tomato plants, creating a more favorable environment for their growth.
Specific Companion Plants with Unique Benefits
Asparagus: Keeps nematodes in the soil at bay. Planting tomatoes next to asparagus beds can provide benefits without damaging asparagus plants.
Beans: Beans may be the perfect companion plant for tomatoes since they are heavy feeders. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, enhancing soil fertility and supporting the nutrient needs of tomatoes.
FAQS
What should you not plant next to tomatoes?
To optimize the growth of your tomato plants, it is advisable to avoid planting members of the brassica family, such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi, nearby. These vegetables tend to out-compete tomatoes for essential nutrients, potentially hindering the robust development of your tomato plants.
Can peppers and tomatoes be planted together?
Certainly! Planting peppers and tomatoes together is generally a compatible gardening practice. Both belong to the Solanaceae family and share similar growing conditions, making them suitable companions. This symbiotic planting can optimize space and resources in your garden, fostering a harmonious environment for these flavorful crops to thrive.
However, it’s essential to consider factors such as spacing, sunlight, and soil requirements for each plant to ensure a successful and bountiful harvest.
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