Category: Companion Planting

Do you want to pair your tomatoes with marigold plant and worry whether it would be beneficial for growing tomatoes or not?

Marigolds are very common among gardeners, especially the french marigolds. It is a very economical plant requiring less effort to set in your garden. This plant is resilient to heat.

It is a very friendly plant when planted with most of the plants and overall benefits its neighbor plants and your overall garden.

Now the question is whether it is going to benefit your tomato plants or not and whether these plants are compatible with each plant association.

In short, there are many benefits to companion planting marigolds near tomato plants as both plants are competent to each other, require direct exposure to sunlight, have similar watering requirements, and are resilient to heat. If you have enough space to plant both plants, they thrive extremely well together. Marigolds are also well known for their pest-repellent properties, which help to restrict the entry of harmful pests, insects and caterpillars.

This heat-tolerant plant has many benefits which are even scientifically proven. They proved to be one of the best companion plants for most vegetable plants because of their pest-repellent property. 

This plant can be easily available in any nursery or garden centre. Now, will it be beneficial to plant closer to your tomato plants?

This article explains whether planting marigolds with tomatoes would work or harm your garden and how these two plants are used together.

5 Reasons Why You Should Grow Marigolds With Your Tomato Plants

1. Marigolds attract bees and other tomato-benefiting insects.

Having beautiful butterflies, bees, ladybugs, and other favorable creatures in your garden is quite mesmerizing.

They are also a great pollinating agent, which helps to maximize the yield. Marigolds also attract many other beneficial insects which act as predators for aphids, hornworms or caterpillars. 

2. Marigolds act as a “trap crop” for slugs and snails.

Tomatoes attract slugs and snails. You would only come to know their presence when you got to pluck your lovely tomatoes. These night thieves leave some soft holes and secret slim trails. 

The beautiful ornamental Marigolds plant is a “Trap Crop” for slugs and snails. The foliages of marigolds attract these slugs and snails and later destroy them. 

3. Marigolds deter animal tomato pests.

The marigold feels aromatic for humans, but this smell feels like order for many pests and insects which deter them from your garden.

Rabbits, deer, cats and snacks remain away from marigolds. And your crop is saved with these species. 

4. Marigolds help to keep soil healthy.

Root-knot nematodes are very harmful to homegrown tomato plants and other gardeners. They also impact other nightshade plants like eggplants and peppers. 

Marigolds trap these root-knot nematodes and destroy them completely. Planting marigolds in regions where root-knot nematodes are infested is quite beneficial. 

A toxin found in the marigold roots is enough to kill these nematodes at their initial production stage. 

5. Marigolds deter tomato worms.

Tomatoes attract an abundance of pests, hornworms and caterpillars. Large moths begin their life in tomato garden as tomato hornworms and can destroy the tomato plants. 

Marigolds restrict the entry of these hornworms in two ways. 

Firstly, its strong smell acts as a pest and moth repellent, making it inefficient for laying eggs. 

Secondly, it attracts many predators that feed these hornworms and other hazardous pests and insects and keeps your garden from harmful insects and pests.

Note: Plant marigold seeds around and between your tomato plants to give them an extra boost. These vibrant flowers germinate quickly, so you’ll have a lush garden in no time! Once they reach 2-3 inches tall, make sure to thin out the soil around them to ensure they don’t overcrowd each other.

Marigolds and Tomatoes

You can use marigolds and tomatoes in different ways and plant them easily in raised beds as well as in hanging baskets and create an impassable border around the tomato plants.

They need similar growing conditions like full exposure to sunlight, heat resistance, and well-drained rich soil. 

They form a symbiotic relationship when planted as companion plants and can easily survive with each other and benefit one another.

It will advise you to plant larger varieties of marigolds a little far from tomato plants as they can shade the tomatoes whereas you can plant small marigold varieties a little close to tomatoes.

Benefits of Marigolds

1. Marigold flowers can easily attract pollinating agents like bees and insects in your garden. 
2. Tomato plants are pollinated by these pollinators and thus increase fruit production.
3. Marigold acts as harmful pests repellent due to pyrethrum content in it.
4. Nematodes, cabbage worms and tomato hornworms hate marigolds. Thus it saves your garden from these harmful pests.
5. Marigold roots contain alpha-terthienyl, which is toxic to root-knot nematodes found in soil.
6. This compound protects your tomato plant’s root system.

Planting Them Together

Tomatoes and marigolds love to grow and develop properly if they get at least 6-8 hours of direct exposure to sunlight per day. 

Ensure to maintain proper spacing between the plants. Maintain at least 10-12 inches of distance between each plant. In such a way, the plants get enough space to grow properly.

Also, note that it should be as close to tomato plants as possible so that they can get the benefits of marigold plants. 

Marigolds can be planted as border plants in your vegetable garden. It works great as a barrier, but before using it as a border plant in your vegetable garden, proper spacing is a damn important factor. 

Maintain at least 1-0-12 inches between each plant while planting. 

Planting Together in Containers

Most home gardeners find it convenient to plant in containers. Are you also willing to grow your marigolds in pots, containers or small raised beds near your tomato plants? 

Here also you need to be conscious about spacing. Use at least 5 gallons of container for your tomato plant. It can be enough to grow one tomato plant. 

Suppose you want your tomatoes to be accompanied by marigolds. In that case, it indicates that you need a little container bigger than 5 gallons and a widener to maintain a distance of 12 inches to grow both plants together. 

An alternate option to plant them together is to plant each plant in a separate container. Ensure to keep both plants closer to each other.

In this way, it would resolve spacing issues, and tomatoes would benefit from marigold plants. 

Which Marigolds Are Best For Tomatoes?

Out of the 50+ species of marigold, Tagetes erectus (African Marigolds), T. patula (French Marigolds) and T. tenuifolia (Signet Marigolds) are the top three recommended for garden use due to their brilliant color displays and benefits!

I can simply say that all the marigolds efficiently benefit tomato plants whether they are French marigolds, African marigolds or signet marigolds.
But still, if you are going through any issues, you can try the following:

Marigold Variety	What Does It Do?
African Marigold	Deer deterrent
French Marigold	Root knot nematode
Signet Marigold	Attract bees and beneficial insects
All Marigold Variety	Deter tomato worms and caterpillars

You can merge some of the marigold varieties and check which is best for your tomatoes.

Quick Tip: Typically, Signet marigolds don’t need deadheading for optimal growth and blooms; however, African and French types of marigold will require regular maintenance via deadheading to maximize flowering.

6 Alternatives To Marigold That You Can Plant With Tomatoes

If you want to opt for planting other than marigolds to enhance the show and beauty of your garden or for any other reasons, I suggest you some other companion plants for your tomatoes.

These plants may not serve the same benefits as marigolds but can provide many other symbiotic benefits for your tomatoes. 

Calendula

Calendula, scientifically known as calendula officinalis, is an annual flowering plant generally having 8-10 inches in height and requires full exposure to sunlight to grow properly. 

It is also known as a pot or scotch marigold and is heat-resilient and a Vivid Flower. Its shape is almost similar to African Marigolds. It is planted as a companion plant with many vegetables and has many medicinal properties. 

Alyssum

Alyssum, scientifically known as Lobularia maritima. It grows up to 6-8 inches and loves full exposure to sunlight. 

It is also said to be a sweet alyssum because of its sweet floral aroma, a compact growing plant. The color of its flower is purple and white. Its flower has the ability to attract many pollinators in your garden. 

Zinnias

Zinnias, Scientifically known as Zinnia elegans, is an annual flowering plant that grows in full sunlight and possesses a height of 8-36 inches. It is a heat and drought-tolerant resilient plant.

Nature has gifted us with a wide variety of Zinnias. Their height depends on their variety, and they flower in shades like purple, pink, red, orange and many more. It attracts many pollinating agents in your garden. 

Nasturtium

Nasturtium, scientifically known as Nasturtium, is an annual plant with a height of 10-24 inches and enjoys growing in full and partial sunlight. 

Nasturtium possesses few varieties, and all of its varieties bloom in warmer shades like gold, red and orange. It grows quite efficiently in warmer conditions and beautifies your garden with its colorful flowers throughout the season. 

It has a similar growing habit to tomato plants and can easily spread in your garden if you reseed them. It best suits all vegetable plants that grow in full sunlight and is edible. 

Anise Hyssop

The scientific name of Anise Hyssop is Agastache foeniculum, and it is an annual plant. It grows to a height of 12-24 inches and loves to grow in full exposure to sunlight. 

It has wide varieties and colors. Warmer climatic conditions are favorable for Anise hyssop and flowers all time. 

It is a damn aromatic flowering plant that invites many pollinating agents into your garden. It also has many medicinal properties. 

Ageratum

The scientific name of Ageratum is Ageratum. It is also an annual flowering plant with a 10-24 inches height that enjoys both full sun and partial sunlight exposure and is a heat-tolerant plant.

It works best as a border plant for your garden. It attracts bees because of its fuzzy flowering cluster. It can only grow blue and white flowers but gives your garden a fantastic look. 

Growing is very economical and works best with vegetable plants that grow in full sunlight.

Summary

It is beneficial to grow both marigolds and tomatoes together. Marigolds have many beneficial properties for your garden. It acts as a pest and insect repellent, attracting many predators and pollinating agents in your garden. As a result, your juicy and hard-grown tomatoes benefit from marigolds. I suggest planting marigolds with your tomato plants, and you would be amazed to see the results. 

Tomato and potato plants belong to the same family, i.e., the nightshade family. So, the question is whether we can grow both plants together. Practically speaking, planting the same family of nightshade plants together is not a good idea. It causes many challenges.

In short, you should avoid planting tomatoes and potatoes together. They both require different pH of soil for their plantation. Both plants are prone to similar diseases like Early Blight and Late Blight, which can easily spread.

But still, if you are willing to grow both plants together, it is possible to plant them together with some disease control preventive measures.

Maintain a favorable growing condition for both plants and also take preventive steps to reduce the risk of diseases, and you will be able to grow both plants together efficiently. 

Reasons Not To Plant Potatoes and Tomatoes Together

There are so many reasons for not planting tomatoes and potatoes together, but one of the major reasons is Soil pH which I have discussed below in detail.  

Soil pH

Tomatoes require little acidic soil with a pH ranging between 6.0 to 6.8, which is common for most garden plants. At the same time, potatoes prefer more acidic soils ranging in pH from 4.8 to 5.5.

A logarithmic (Exponential) scale is needed to measure the soil’s pH level. 5.0 pH is ten times the acidic pH of 6.0. Both tomatoes and potatoes would be endangered if planted in the same pH soil.

Most people often wonder why the nutrient levels and pH of the soil are important to grow any plant. So the soil nutrition content is dependent on its pH level only. You can also go through this research to better understand the relationship between soil pH and nutrition.

For example, tomatoes need comparatively more calcium than potatoes. And low content of calcium is found in soil pH of 4.8. So this type of soil is suitable only for potatoes, and tomatoes won’t grow fine in such soil; rather, it would lead to Blossom End Rot (a tomato disease due to scarcity of calcium). 

Your plants would become more prone to various diseases because the main reason for disease in the plants is the pH imbalance in the soil and not the scarcity of nutrients.

So You can easily say that the soil’s pH difference is the vital reason for not planting tomatoes and potatoes together.

Growth and Harvesting

If you are growing potatoes and tomatoes together in the same soil, you might face challenges growing fresh, undamaged, and healthy tomatoes until maturity.

Please note that potato leaves grow above the ground, but the potatoes themselves grow underground.

Growing potatoes too close to growing tomatoes can interrupt the growth of roots of tomatoes as the potatoes grow larger underground. It can even damage the roots of your tomato plants.

Planting both plants attract pests which can also increase the risk of transmission of many diseases.

Why Are Tomatoes And Potatoes Bad Companions?

Tomatoes and potatoes are often paired commonly in not only vegetable gardens, but they are paired in kitchens. They are very easy to use in the kitchen, and you can also cook many delicious recipes with these veggies.

But sadly, they can not be grown together and are not good companion plants or root vegetables.

It is strongly recommended not to plant these two veggies together as it increases the risk of ruining both plants and other edible plants already in your garden.

Pests and diseases are the vital reasons for making them the worst companion plant. As potatoes and tomatoes belong to the same nightshade family, they are highly prone to similar diseases and the same pests too. The most damaging ones are Early Blight and Late Blight.

These diseases can easily attack both plants along with other plants in the same space in your garden if planted together.

They start competing for soil nutrients if you have planted potatoes and tomatoes in the same soil. As a result, both plants would not get the proper nutrients needed for their growth and development, leading to low growth and poor harvest.

Harvesting also becomes challenging and problematic for many gardeners too. The potatoes are required to be pulled during harvesting time.

If they are planted close to the tomatoes, the root system of tomatoes can be disturbed and becomes impossible to resolve.

What Should You Do About It?

Firstly, it is strongly recommended not to plant both potatoes and tomatoes together. But still, if you want to opt to grow both plants in the same garden due to lack of space, you can still consciously fulfill a few conditions diligently and end up growing both crops together without harming any of them.

But I recommend not planting other plants in the same side vegetable garden where you want to grow potatoes and tomatoes.

How To Plant Tomatoes and Potatoes Together?

Plant Disease Resistant Varieties

Our horticulturist and agriculture developed some tomato varieties which are resilient to many diseases.

While planting disease-resistant varieties of tomatoes, you can reduce the risk of spreading many pests, harmful insects, and diseases, which is the main concern for planting potatoes and tomatoes together.

The most common and dangerous disease for both plants is blight. So you should especially opt for the varieties resilient to blight disease.

It would not totally control the blight issue, but these plants are less susceptible to blight. These special varieties are good for disease resistance, high yield, rapid growth, and quality fruit production.

You can purchase the tomato seeds with codes on their level. The type of disease resistance is also specified on the packet of tomato seeds.

Some varieties are EB Early Blight, LB Late Blight, V Verticillium Wilt, F Fusarium wilt, N Nematodes, and A Alternaria. T Tobacco Mosaic Virus, TSWT Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. 

Space Them Correctly

Regular spacing between the plants is not enough to control the spread of diseases.

To maintain good air circulation between the plants, maintain at least 5 feet of distance, but it would be best if you can manage to maintain 10 feet of distance.

It would also prevent the tomatoes, especially the indeterminate varieties from getting shaded due to the leaves of the fully grown potatoes.

Both tomatoes and potatoes love full exposure to sunlight. If they are shaded somehow, you will get a very low yield for both crops. 

Plant In Raised Beds

The root system of tomato plants can be hampered even after maintaining proper space between the plants.

Planting them close to each other can lead to competition for nutrition between the plants, which can hamper both plants’ growth. It also impacts fruit development.

It means that harvesting potatoes would forcefully hamper the root system of the tomatoes, which in turn interrupts the growth and yield of the tomato plants.

So plant both plants in separate raised beds. Even if the plants are close to one another, they are yet separated.

With this method, you can plant both tomatoes and potatoes in separate soil, ending the nutrition competition and resolving the harvesting problem. And you can also closely monitor both plants even after keeping them close to one another. 

Water The Soil, Not The Leaves

Plants are more susceptible to getting various diseases in wet and humid conditions. If the leaves and fruits remain wet for a longer period and water sits on them, the plants can attract more fungal or bacterial diseases and spread to other plants in your garden.

Thus, adopting the correct watering technique for your plants is very important. Avoid overhead irrigation and use soaker hoses and drip irrigation while watering.

Be cautious about water in the base of the plant, shallow roots, and soil, and not on the leaves and fruits.

Direct exposure to sunlight and keeping the plants at an ideal temperature leads to the evaporation of water on the plants and helps to keep your plant dry.

It saves your plant in rainy climates when your plants necessarily get too much water on their leaves and fruits. 

Check For Diseases And Pests Often

You need to develop the habit of scrutinizing your plants thoroughly for any pests and diseases.

If you spot any pests and diseases at the initial level only, it would be easy to control their spread to other plants and protect your harvest.

When you visit your garden to water your plants, carry a shear and thoroughly scrutinize the leaves of both plants.

Especially inspect the underside of the plant’s leaves and stems as the pests mostly love to stay there.

Just remove the pests and affected areas proactively and apply the disease spray to control them.

Ensure to sanitize your gardening tools after and before removing any pests and diseases, or they may spread the disease. 

Summary

It is highly recommended not to plant potatoes and tomatoes together as they may harm each other, including other plants in your garden. But still, if you want to grow them together, try to plant resilient varieties of tomatoes with proper spacing between the plants and take all the preventive measures discussed in this article. It would help to grow disease-free healthy plants and decent harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best potato companion plants?

Potato plants are compatible with many different companion plants, including beans, celery, corn, peas, and marigolds. 

Beans provide nitrogen-rich soil for potatoes to thrive in, while their roots attract beneficial insects like earthworms that help aerate the soil. 

Celery deters potato beetles while adding calcium and magnesium to the soil. 

Corn provides a natural barrier, shading the potatoes from direct sunlight, and also attracts beneficial insects. Peas are a great nitrogen source for potatoes, and their roots promote better soil aeration. 

Finally, marigolds can deter many pests that attack potatoes while adding helpful soil nutrients. They’re an especially attractive option if you’re looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance companion plant.

Not only do potato plants deter Mexican bean beetle, but they also repel their attacks against other legumes!

What should not be planted with tomatoes?

The brassica family, composed of vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi, can significantly stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they require similar nutrients to prosper. So, it would be best if you do not use these as companion planting with tomatoes.

Are you planning to plant tomatoes and cucumbers together but need clarification about the companionship of both plants? Companion planting is a good idea, but if the wrong plants are planted together, it can definitely harm both plants. Tomatoes and cucumbers make great salad companions, but are they really great plant companions? 

Cucumber plants rarely fit as companion plants with any other plants. They belong to the cucurbit family, which are heavy feeders. They compete for nutrition in the soil with other plants, leading them to starvation.

If a good stake is not provided to cucumber plant, they grow large and become very difficult to manage because of their big size.

As a result, the companion plants get shaded and hardly get exposed to sunlight. Tomatoes also grow widely, and sometimes they are also disapproved of as companion plants. 

In short, tomatoes and cucumbers can be planted together as companion plants as they have the same basic need to grow. They require the same amount of sunlight, soil condition, and watering techniques for their cultivation.

So how can you decide whether you can accompany cucumber with tomato? Read this article thoroughly to understand how both plants can be great companions in your garden.

What is Companion Planting? Explained

Companion planting is also called interplanting, widely used for both organic gardening and planting. In nature, you might have spotted various types of plants growing together.

If you are a nature lover, you can also feel the joy of plants growing beside each other if they support one another to grow well.

Many plants in nature can thrive with other plants if grown together. Many natural agents like plants, animals and beneficial predatory insects can support other plants in strengthening them, making the plant disease resistance.

Nowadays, only one vegetable and fruit type is grown in one garden. This prevents the plants from growing in their own way.

Large farmers and growers opt to grow this way only to utilize all the space available for one type of plant to increase their profit. 

Reasons To Do Companion Planting

Growing companion plants does not have only one reason; it benefits plant species in many ways.

I have listed a few points below.

• Attracts pollinators which in turn increases the yield.
• Reduces the risk of weeds, pests and diseases.
• Enhances the flavor of the fruits.
• Maximizes space, especially when you have a small garden and manages sunlight exposure.

When different plants have the same basic requirements to grow and develop, it becomes easy for the grower to plant them together. 

Tomatoes and cucumbers need the same soil and climatic conditions, sunlight and watering techniques to grow; it is simple to grow both plants together. 

Yes, they can compete for vital nutrients, but if you manage to take care properly, nothing can beat them to growing perfectly and beautifully. 

Growing Requirements

If you are planning to grow tomatoes and cucumbers together, you should ensure the main factors like sunlight, soil and watering.

If all these three factors are manageable, then it is a straightforward process to grow them successfully together.

When planting cucumbers and tomatoes together, you must know that cucumber seeds require high-nitrogen fertilizer in the holes before you transplant tomatoes. Tomatoes, however, do not necessitate added fertilizers. Various ways of companion planting these vegetables depend on their growth patterns.

Sunlight

Both cucumbers and tomatoes are warm season crops. A Minimum 6 hours (per day) of direct exposure to sunlight promotes the healthy growth and development of the plants. 

You can maximize the plant’s yield if they get 8-10 hours of direct exposure to sunlight every day. It would be quite beneficial if the plants received day sunlight and were protected from harsh afternoon sunlight.

In order to be sure of how much sunlight your plant is receiving per day, you can ensure this by measuring it. Just check when your plant is receiving sunlight and when it is shaded.

But it is very important to plant both plants so they won’t shade each other. 

Quality of Soil

High-nutrient soil with the best drainage system is needed to thrive and increase the yield of tomatoes and cucumbers, as they are heavy feeders. Adding compost to the soil before one month of planting enhances the soil nutrients.

Using homemade compost is the best option. You can prepare it with manure or vermiculture. If you cannot prepare homemade compost, purchase organic compost from nurseries or garden centres. You should add it to the soil before plantation.

Keep using the right amount of good quality fertilizers in the soil during the growing season to maintain the nutrition level in the soil. 

Both plants need a high and almost the same amount of nutrition in the soil to produce maximum yield. In such a scenario, the plants stop competing for nutrition with each other.

Manage to maintain good nutrition in the soil throughout the growing season. This would reduce the risk of competition for nutrition in the soil, and both tomato and cucumber plants grow efficiently. 

At the beginning of the plantation, using compost and balanced fertilizers is the best. When plants begin to bloom, start using a fertilizer with a high amount of potassium and phosphorus and moderate amounts of nitrogen to maintain good nutrition in the soil. It results in maximizing flower and fruit production throughout the season. 

Consistent Watering

Consistent water supply is a very important factor; almost the same water supply is needed for both plants. Tomatoes love to be watered when the soil is dried out up to 1-2 inches in the soil. At the same time, cucumbers prefer a little moist soil to grow well.

Before watering the plants, you can check the soil’s moisture level by dipping your finger. If your finger comes out dry up to 2-3 inches, then it is the right time to water your plant, but if it is still moist, then wait and check the moisture level in the soil the next day. This would indicate the watering need for both plants.

Avoid overhead irrigation; instead, use soaker hoses or a drip system to water both plants. This would result in a consistent water supply to the plants. 

Ensure to water the soil and not the leaves, a key to keeping your plants away from various diseases.

Planting Cucumbers and Tomatoes Together?

Now the question arises of how to place these two plants together on the ground. So it is mostly dependent on the varieties you have chosen to plant.

Tomatoes are of determinate and indeterminate varieties, whereas cucumbers are vining and bushing varieties.

The best combinations for the cucumbers and tomatoes plantation are:

1. Vining cucumber and determinate varieties of tomatoes.
2. Bushing cucumber with indeterminate tomato varieties.

But you can independently make any combination of your choice. It would grow fine. I have discussed all possible combinations of planting in this article.

Determinate Tomato Plant with a Vining Cucumber

Determinate tomatoes have a bush-like habit. So they are also called “bush” tomatoes. Their height is already determined, and they only grow up to a certain extent.

After that, it stops growing. But tomato cages and stakes are necessary to use to support the plants. They cannot grow anywhere like indeterminate tomatoes. It is best to pair the plant with vining cucumbers.

Plant both plants in such a way so that they never get shaded due to each other. It would be best to always plant cucumbers and tomatoes in the back side of your vegetable garden near the grilles and determinate tomatoes in the area where they can get direct exposure to sunlight.

Since determinate tomato plants are dwarf and grow up to a certain height, cucumber would manage to get the exposure to sunlight as it can grow high. And both the plants won’t get shaded. 

Indeterminate Tomato with a Bushing Cucumber

The planting technique for indeterminate tomatoes and bushing cucumbers is the opposite of the one I discussed above. 

To plant this combination, indeterminate tomatoes are planted at the back of the garden so that they can grow as high as possible. Bushing cucumber needs to be planted in an area where they can get direct exposure to sunlight. Thus both the plants would never shade each other and get enough sunlight. 

Indeterminate Tomato with a Vining Cucumber

It is very challenging to plant indeterminate tomatoes with vining cucumbers, and you need to take a lot of care while planting this combination. You can take care of vining cucumber similarly to tomatoes. Planting such a combination is called “Diversified Planting”.

Most gardeners fail to manage adequate air circulation and exposure to sunlight facilities for the plants while cultivating indeterminate tomatoes and vining cucumbers together. But it is not challenging for experienced gardeners.

Plant vining cucumbers between the tomatoes. This helps to prevent weed suppression as it works as ground cover in your garden bed. But the worst part is that cucumbers cannot grow as big as they would have been if planted to grow vertically. 

Determinate Tomato with a Bushing Cucumber

You can plant determinate tomatoes and bushing cucumbers side by side. This would reduce the risk of non-exposure to sunlight as none of the plants would grow taller. 

Spacing of Plants

You should maintain spacing between the plants properly, irrespective of the combination you are planting. It would prevent crowding, and they would never compete for nutrients and water. 

Position each plant at least 2-3 feet away from one another and rows should be spaced out by a minimum of 3-4 feet. Recommended spacing may vary depending on the combination of plants you are cultivating.

Generally, this recommended spacing helps to maintain proper air circulation for the plants in the front garden beds.

Also Read – Can You Plant Tomatoes and Potatoes Together

Potential Drawbacks of Interplanting Tomato Plants

Mainly there are three challenges which you may face while interplanting. I have discussed those points which are faced while planting different combinations of plants. 

One Plant Shades the Other

All plants should receive abundant sunlight exposure without fail. Keep in mind that tomato seedlings grow large very fast, and cucumber vines grow and spread on the vines in a short period of time.

Ensure to plant in such a way that none of them gets shaded due to one another.

Competition for Resources:

Never keep the resources limited. Both tomatoes and cucumbers are heavy feeders, and they would continue to compete for nutrition if the soil did not have adequate nutrition.

Thus it is best to keep consistent watering and ensure nutrient-rich soil to grow both plants together.

Increased Pest or Disease Problems

While planting both plants together, problems of Air Circulation in the plants may arise due to dense leaves, which in turn attract pests and diseases.

So maintain good spacing between the plants to reduce the risk of congested air circulation.

You can stake or use a cage when interpreting the plants. Timely and proper pruning also maintains good airflow in the plants. 

Our Recommendation

If you want to plant different combinations of plants, just go ahead simply. Even if you have limited space, you can increase the yield with combination planting.

But opting for combination planting in a larger garden where you have enough space is mostly recommended.

• Stake Trellis: Train your cucumbers in such a way that it grows vertically on a trellis so that the stake can be reused. 
• Soli Management: keep your soil fertilized, especially when your plant is flowering. 
• Add other companion plants: Plant nasturtiums and marigolds to attract pollinators and increase yield.
• Avoid overhead watering: use soaker hoses or drip irrigation for planting any type of plant.

Summary

Planting cucumber and tomato together is possible by every means. So go ahead and begin combination and avoid planting cucumbers alone. This would keep your garden disease-free, and the yield can be increased limitlessly. Just ensure proper airflow, sunlight exposure and airflow for the plants, and you will grow tasty cucumber tomatoes together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you not plant cucumbers near tomatoes?

Disease transmission is the main concern while planting both cucumbers and tomatoes together. Mainly many diseases are carried by tomato plants which can spread to cucumber plants if planted closely, and both cultivations are set at risk of destruction.

Some of the diseases which tomato plants carry are bacterial wilt, cucumber mosaic virus, early blight fungus, late blight fungus, phytophthora blight and more.

How far should cucumbers be from tomatoes?

Irrespective of the combination, you should properly maintain spacing between the plants. Maintaining at least 2-3 plants in a row at a distance of 3-4 feet or 18-24 inches between the plants is recommended. The spacing may vary based on the combination you have planned to plant. You can plant bush varieties of cucumber a little closer than vining cucumbers. 

Will cucumbers climb a tomato cage?

Tomato cages are a popular option for gardeners and potted-plant enthusiasts, providing valuable support that keeps fragile harvests in excellent condition. Round tomato cages are especially well-suited to aiding the growth of fructuous and vining plants, such as tomatoes, hot peppers, cucumbers, squash & zucchini, amongst many others!

Can I use a tomato cage as a trellis?

If you’re looking to keep your tomato plants healthy and make harvesting easier, it’s time to consider providing support. Tomato cages, stakes and trellises are the most common solutions; however, don’t be afraid of thinking outside the box – there is an abundance of creative ideas out there!

It is tough to find the best companion plants for your garden. Most plants get some benefits if grown with some specific plants. Unknowingly, Some plants are grown closer to other plants, which creates many obstacles to growth; sometimes, that plant even dies.

Now the question is, what if tomatoes and peppers are grown together? Will they harm each other, or will they be proved to be advantageous? 

Yes, peppers and tomatoes can be planted together. When grown together both of them maximize yields in small spaces, make the soil more fertile and attract beneficial insects as pollinators. You can use a trellis to maximize their yields.

It will act like a miracle if tomatoes and peppers are planted together correctly. But if planted incorrectly, both of them may get destroyed.

Tomatoes should never be grown with potatoes and many other plants, but if you plan to accompany them with peppers, it’s a great idea.

Read this article thoroughly to understand how to plant tomatoes and peppers together and do companion planting works for both the veggies.

Should You Companion Plant Peppers and Tomatoes?

Tomatoes and peppers are proven to be one of the best companion plants if planted by following the proper steps.

You can plant both plants and get a high yield even in limited space if they get nutritious soil and proper exposure to sunlight and water. 

Please read below our tips and tricks for growing peppers and tomatoes together.

How To Plant Tomato and Pepper Together?

Tomatoes and pepper thrive better in hot climates, but at the same time, both plants are more prone to fungal diseases. Thus it is very important to mind the space between the plants.

Ensure to maintain at least 18-24 inches of distance between the tomato plants and at least 18 inches for pepper plants. Keep the soil loose to prevent it from clumping with the help of a hoe or gardening rake.

Keep your soil rock free to maintain the growth of the plants. After all these things, your plants are ready to be placed in the rows.

You should maintain 2-3 feet of distance between the rows. It would prevent the unhealthy competition between the plants for nutrition and water.

Related Article – Can You Plant Tomatoes With Cucumbers

Tips To Grow Tomatoes And Peppers Together

Proper spacing between the plants: Ideally, you should maintain 18-24 inches of space between the plants and 2-3 feet between the rows for better yield. For container plants, you can grow peppers and tomatoes together, but the yield will be a little low).

Stakes and trellis: Use tomato cages, posts or twins to provide proper support to the plants.

Pruning: you can prune lower and old tomato leaves of tomatoes to maintain good airflow between the plants.

Fertility: ensure using rich soil for planting tomato and pepper plants to thrive well. You can mix diluted liquid fish or kelp once in 2 weeks in the main growing season.

Add other companion plants: You can also plant herbs like parsley and lettuce as companion plants, along with tomatoes and peppers, for better growth.

Avoid overhead irrigation: Opt for soaker hoses or drip irrigation instead of overhead irrigation. It would not let the water stay on the leaf surfaces, and the plants would be disease-free.

Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes For Growing Tomatoes and Pepper Companion Plants

The gardeners often make a few mistakes while planting both plants. Fortunately, we have some easy fixes to overcome those mistakes. 

Planting Too Close Together 

Proper spacing between the plants is vital for planting any plants to spread their roots and leaves efficiently.

So maintain an 18-24 inches distance for tomato plants and at least 18 inches for pepper plants. Never plant any plants too close to each other. 

Forgetting to Trellis or Stake 

There are high chances of falling over for tomato and pepper plants when they set high numbers of fruits during summer.

Thus staking and trellising becomes the utmost important thing to reduce the risk of getting damaged.

Ensure staking and trellis for both the plants, or else all your hard work for planting both the plants together would go in veins.  

Avoiding Pruning

Pruning involves cutting lower old leaves and suckers to maintain good plant airflow. But avoiding pruning can be great for planting tomatoes and peppers together.

Suckers are small shoots or leaves which come out from the main stem and branch and form a V shape and they are very important for tomato plants.

You should prune suckers for higher yield and to prevent disease issues. Thus, only one or two main shooters that grow efficiently upward and out are left.

Not Enough Nutrients

Tomatoes and peppers both are prolific plants, and both are heavy feeders too. Thus you need to be very specific about the soil used for planting.

Use high-quality compost and organic fertilizers like bone meal or fish emulsion at the peak of the growing season.

The same fertilizers can be used for peppers too. This is also one of the reasons for growing both plants; they are proven to be one of the best companion plants. 

Disease

When you notice early or late blight in your plants, remove them immediately to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. (Source)

You can also use diluted neem solution to treat or organically prevent your plant from fungus or pathogens.

Please ensure to maintain good air circulation between the plants. You can prune the old lower leaves of the plants. 

Pests 

Tomatoes and peppers belong to nightshade family and are more prone to attract insect pests. Tomato hornworms (sometimes also called tobacco hornworms) are the most common ones.

They are green-colored 8-10 feet caterpillars which can even be hand-picked and removed if spotted. They can simply eat all your plants and fruits just in one day. So be very cautious and act proactively when spotted.

You can also use light row cover when the plants are young at the beginning of the plantation to keep these destroying caterpillars far away from your garden.

It also provides extra warmth to your plants, which favors your plant’s growth and repel pests.

Can you plant pepper and tomato in the same bed?

Yes, you can plant both pepper and tomato plants in the same bed. Peppers and tomatoes are both members of the nightshade family, which means they have similar soil and sunlight needs. However, there are a few things to consider before planting them together.

First, peppers take longer to mature than tomatoes do so it’s important to plant them early in the season.

Secondly, tomatoes are heavy feeders and will compete with peppers for nutrients if they’re not given enough fertilizer.

Finally, peppers are more sensitive to temperature extremes than tomatoes are, so it’s important to protect them from extreme heat or cold.

https://youtu.be/KsAvlXTDJxw

Summary

It is very advantageous and easy growing tomatoes and peppers together as companion plants. You can even pair both of them to prepare delicious recipes. These plants fit best together in your garden. Ensure to follow the steps mentioned above for healthy and easy panting. Ultimately, you can get a higher yield for tomatoes and pepper. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What should not be planted with tomatoes?

You should not plant tomatoes with Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi. These vegetables can draw away essential nutrients from the tomatoes and stunt their growth. As a result of this competition, tomato plants may produce fewer fruits.

How far apart to plant tomatoes and peppers?

You should plant tomatoes and peppers at least 18-24 inches apart. When planting more than one row of tomatoes or peppers, the rows should be placed 3-4 feet apart to allow for proper air circulation. 

In addition, it is important to remember that some tomato and pepper varieties can grow quite large, so that they may require more space than the recommended spacing.

What can you not plant with peppers?

You should not plant peppers with cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi etc., as these plants are all susceptible to the same diseases and pests. 

Also, you must avoid planting peppers with cabbage family members (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc.) because they can cross-pollinate and plants of the same family are known to draw out similar nutrients from their environment.

Finally, do not plant peppers near fennel or dill; they can also cross-pollinate with peppers.

Instead, opt for companion plants such as garlic, basil, oregano and parsley which help improve the flavor of peppers.

Can I plant jalapenos next to tomatoes?

Yes, you can plant jalapenos next to tomatoes. Some gardeners even recommend planting them together as they are both in the same family of vegetables (nightshades) and share similar growing needs.

The jalapenos may even ward off pests that could damage your tomato plants.

What month do you plant tomatoes and peppers?

The best time to plant tomatoes and peppers is in the late spring or early summer when soil temperatures have warmed up, and all danger of frost has passed. Generally, this means planting them around May or June in most areas.

However, you can start certain varieties indoors several weeks earlier if your area experiences long cold winters.

Be sure to check the guidance on specific tomato and pepper varieties you plan to grow, as each variety may have different requirements for when you should plant it.

It’s also important to research your local climate conditions and temperature ranges to ensure that you are planting at the best time for your location.

Are you planning to companion your tomato with other plants? 

Well! Tomatoes can be efficiently paired and planted with plenty of different plants in your garden. 

Tomatoes are a taste enhancer for any dish. Any of the varieties of tomatoes are delicious fruit grown in the summer. Tomatoes are more prone to pests and diseases, which can badly impact the yield and even kill the plants.

If you want to opt for an organic way to prevent the risk of pests and disease in your tomato plants, then you should pair your tomato plants with other plants which can protect your tomato plant growth from bugs and different species of pathogens with some more advantages.

Companion planting makes your tomato plants more resistant to pests and diseases, maximizes the yield, maintains proper growth of the plants, and attracts pollinating agents into your garden.

In this article, I have discussed 27 tomato companion plants that can benefit your plant’s health and yield.

What is Companion Planting?

Companion planting helps to keep the plants away from disease and pests and speeds up the growing process. It acts as a natural agent to keep your garden away from various diseases. 

For example, if basils are grown near tomatoes, their growth speeds up, and fruit is set early on the plants.

How Does Companion Planting Work?

It has been proven scientifically that companion planting with tomatoes reduces pests.

Let’s check a few great companion plants, that you can pair with tomatoes.

French Marigolds: It releases limonene which helps to protect your tomato plants from whiteflies.

Basil, peppermint & Hyssop: The growth of tomato plants is enhanced when planted with Basil, Peppermint, and Hyssop and produces secondary metabolites.

White Mustards: The effect of root-feeding nematodes can be reduced when white mustard is planted.  

Onions: You can prevent Soil Borne Diseases such as Verticillium Wilt if onions are planted near Tomatoes.

Some of the companion plants are not researched, but when other plants are planted together with tomatoes, they really benefit, and speedy growth with high yield has been noticed. 

How Companion Planting Helps Tomatoes?

If you do not want to use chemical fertilizers and yet grow your tomatoes healthy with a high yield, then companion planting is one of the best options. Nature has its own capacity to maintain a good balance to help each other. 

You can grow companion plants to increase the symbiotic connections in your garden. 

27 Companion Plants for Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be made more flavorful and delicious, and their production can also be increased if planted with companion plants like herbs, flowers, and vegetables. 

Additionally, companionship can also increase the resistance to pests. 

If you’re nurturing your garden with a tomato cage, trellis system, or greenhouse, you can easily place these allies at the edge of beds and rows. These species have some special qualities that enhance the overall development and benefit the plants. 

Herb Companions

Many herb plants fit best with tomatoes, and it not only keeps away pests and insects but also adds extra beneficial nutrients to the plants, resulting in the disease-free and rapid growth of the tomato plants. 

I have discussed some of the best companion herbs below. 

Basil

It has been researched and proved that when tomatoes are planted with basils, they act as insect and fly repellent and enhance the flavor of tomatoes because of their mild aromatic fragrance. It is very easily economical to grow and maintain. Additionally, it also reduces the number of hornworms.

But it has the main concern of airflow when grown beside tomatoes. It grows bushy and tall and can easily block the air, which increases various diseases. So you should plant basil at least at a distance of 8-12″ from the tomato base so that your plants get enough space to thrive.

Pruning of basil also helps to reduce overcrowding in your tomatoes. At the time of harvest, keep pinching the top leaflets which leads to bushy but not tall and bolting basil plants. 

Scallions

Scallions, commonly known as “Green Onions,” have little mild onion flavor. It takes very less space to grow and thrives in the aisles of tomato plants.

They mature in a very short time and can also thrive in the shade. Like other tomato plants, it is also planted in summer and belongs to the allium and onion family. 

Due to its repellent fragrance, it can also keep away flies, moths, and pests. Tomato hornworm larvae are laid on host plants by Five spotted hawk moths, and they are repelled due to the aroma of the Scallions. 

Parsley

Parsley is also one of the best aromatic herbs that go best as a companion plant with tomatoes. Parsley welcomes swallowtail butterflies which are efficient pollinators for tomato plants. They lay their eggs on the leaves of Parsley and increase in number.

The blossoms of Parsley also invite hoverflies which restricts the entry of thrips and aphids. Parsley also acts as a beetle repellent.

It covers the whole ground which helps to hold the moisture in the soil and prevents weeds’ entry. It grows only up to 9-18 inches in height and requires very less cost for its maintenance.

It thrives in the shade of tomatoes during extreme heat in summer.  

Garlic

The growing schedule of garlic is almost the opposite of most plants. Fall is the season when it is planted and harvested in the middle of summer. But it is the best companion for your young tomato-growing plants.

Garlic acts as a natural deterrent to garden pests due to the presence of sulfur content in it. You can use this in your homemade garden spray and it would repel all the flies and insects. Aphids, caterpillars, cutworms, slugs, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, and mites are kept away due to the strong smell of garlic.

As per the research, vapors and oil released due to garlic is toxic for insects and pests but not for humans, animals, and beneficial insects and pests. It is because of a compound in garlic juice called Garlic Leaf Agglutinin.

Due to this, the plant is rarely attacked by any pests and its magical oil benefits the tomato plants too. Thus it is safe to use as a tomato companion plant.

You can leave some space for tomato plantation while cultivating garlic in the fall season, or you can plant garlic bulbs with tomatoes, and you would be able to harvest “Green Garlic.” 

Cilantro

Cilantro, an aromatic herb and one of the most important ingredients of Salsa, is grown in cold weather crops. Tomatoes shade it during summers in hot weather conditions.

Cilantro attracts hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and other advantageous insects when planted with tomatoes. The nectar of Cilantro flowers attracts bees, one of the best pollinating agents for tomatoes. Thus it helps to increase the yield. Faded cilantro flowers can be harvested, and their seeds can be used as corianders.

It is best known for enhancing the flavor of tomatoes and repels pests like mites and beetles. 

Mint

Tomatoes can best fit with strong fragrance herbs, and Mint is a strong fragrance herb that has been used since the old days to get rid of cockroaches, ants, and flies.

It belongs to the Labiatae Family of herbs spread on the ground, which holds the moisture in the soil and prevents your crop from weeds. It ensures to improve the health of the tomato plants when planted around tomatoes.

But some of the varieties of mints are not best suited to be planted with tomatoes. It can easily spread in the vines and overtake the space of your tomatoes when it gets favorable growing conditions.

You can either plant these mints as a ground cover. But it is best to be planted in pots and keep those pots near your tomato plants. Thus it won’t let the mints hijack your tomato bed.

Mint has a Dolichodial compound in its leaves, mainly responsible for acting against pests. When you crush the leaves with your hands, it releases pest repellent.

So it is very important to regularly touch and harvest the mint to maximize the benefits of your tomato plants. 

Sage

Garden sage is an extremely beautiful and aromatic herb. It can be easily planted near tomatoes until shaded by them. Its blossoms attract the pollinating agents for tomatoes.

Parasitic wasps are welcomed in the garden due to Sage which keeps tomato hornworms at bay.

You can check out this video to see how nature controls caterpillars without chemical pesticides.

https://youtu.be/nZZyJQNmOV8

Oregano

Oregano is an Italian herb that has various medicinal properties. It attracts lacewings as they love to eat Oreganos. The lacewings’ larvae protect tomato plants from whiteflies, aphids, and cutworms.

The bees and many other pollinators love the nectar of oregano flowers. It is spread on the ground and acts as mulch or ground cover, reducing weeds beside the tomato plants. 

Flower Companions

Tomatoes can be effectively companioned with flowers too. Flowers help your garden look beautiful, and their aroma makes it smell good.

Flowers’ smell keeps harmful pests away from your garden and improves soil quality. I have listed a few flowers below that can be paired with tomatoes to get maximum benefit.

Borage

Borage is a brilliant, attractive, star-shaped blue flower that helps keep tomato hornworms away from your garden plants.

When paired with tomatoes, Borages act as a repellent and control tomato hornworms and pests and attract pollinators and bees. It also boosts the flavor of the tomatoes when planted side by side and makes them more delicious.

The best part of planting borage is, it keeps on flowering for a longer period of time. Minding the adequate spacing between the tomatoes and borage as it grows larger is very important. 

Marigolds

Marigolds are golden yellow blossoms that not only enhance the beauty of your garden but are also researched as a great companion plant for your tomato. It can reduce the risk of many tomato fungal diseases, hornworms, whiteflies, spider mites and root-knot nematodes.

As per the National Library of Medicine, planting marigolds next to tomatoes could be used in larger-scale tomato production, protecting the crop and helping to introduce greater plant diversity into these agroecosystems.

It is also researched that planting marigolds near tomatoes can:

• Maximize the production of fruits and increase up to 50 percent.
• Controls root-knot nematodes
• Early tomato blight is controlled and leaf damage is reduced.

Planting marigolds next to tomatoes enhances the color of the fruits. It is also used to prepare natural homemade sprays. 

Nasturtiums

You may not think of planting Nasturtiums in your vegetable garden but it is very helpful, simple to grow, and can be planted in almost any soil. It is an edible flower that acts as a “trap crop” for tomato pests.

You can plant them closer to tomatoes to trap the tomato pests and eat Nasturtiums flower instead of your precious tomato fruits. Additionally, it attracts predators like hoverflies.

Keep enough space between your tomatoes and Nasturtiums to avoid overcrowding as they grow bushy on the vines. 

Calendula

Calendula is also known as Pot Marigolds but they are nowhere related to marigolds. They can be companioned well with tomato plants and provide protection to tomatoes in your garden.

It never allows the hornworms, along with other pests like whiteflies, thrips, beetles, and nematodes, to enter the garden.

It has various medicinal properties and is an edible flower. The fragrance and stickiness of the flowers welcome favorable insects and pollinators. 

Cosmos

Tomato-friendly flower Cosmos can be easily grown and blooms abundantly in the growing season. Bees, predators, and many tomato-beneficial insects love the cosmos, are attracted to it, and control pests. This results in an increase in tomato fruits.

The Orange flower variety of Cosmos attracts Green Lacewings, a predator for aphids, thrips, and scales. But you need to maintain plenty of space while planting both plants together as the cosmos grows up to a height of 6 feet and a width of 103 feet.

It is recommended to plant cosmos on the tomato bed margin and avoid planting inside. 

Sweet Alyssum

Another Favorite companion plant for tomatoes is Sweet Alyssum. It blossoms white or purple, four-petaled flowers in all seasons.

Along with benefiting tomatoes, it also beautifies your garden. Syrphid flies and parasitic wasps love to eat its white blooms, which is an enemy of aphids and other tomato pests.

It won’t trouble you for spacing as it grows 3-9 inches tall. So you can easily plant it in the rows or at the end of the rows.

It would never compete for nutrients or water with your tomato plants, and you can expect this plant to act as a pest controller.

It acts as a natural ground cover which helps maintain the soil’s moisture and control weeds. 

Yarrow

Yarrow is scientifically proven to be one of the best friends of tomato plants. It is an herbaceous, perennial flowering herb, meaning its leaves die in winter and regrows every spring.

It easily attracts ladybugs, syrphid flies, braconid wasps, ground beetles, damselflies, enemies of tomato aphids, flea beetles, and hornworms caterpillars.

It blossoms from white and yellow to orange, pink, and dark red and has many medicinal properties. The nectar of the flowers attracts pollinating agents like bees, resulting in a high yield of tomatoes. You can plant it at the row end or the tomato garden margins. 

Wildflower Blends

Planting wildflower Blends not only benefits your tomato plants, but its flower beautifies the look of your garden too.

Lightly toss the seeds of wildflower blends and rake in the soil in the tomato bed margin. Maintain plenty of space to spread the flower a little wildly without interrupting the space of the tomatoes.

As it is unknown how much wildflowers blends would spread, never directly plant them in the tomato beds.

Even if you plant them 10 feet away from tomatoes, it can easily attract beneficial insects and pollinators for your tomatoes and increase the yield.

Vegetables

After flowers, I have now discussed a list of vegetables that can be best paired with tomatoes and can be highly beneficial. 

These vegetables work great with tomatoes as they are not heavy feeders and never compete for nutrition and water. They never attract tomato pests as they don’t belong to the nightshade family. 

Squash

Three sisters- Squash, corn, and beans are squash types that act as weed suppressants and enhance the growth of food crops. The flat leaves and vining habit of winter squash abundantly benefit the tomato.

To grow properly, squash and tomatoes need the same rich, drained, moist soil. Both the crops are transplanted just after the end of frost and love to grow on hot and sunny summer days.

While growing vining tomatoes, plant squash to grow below, and tomatoes grow upward. Choose a bush variety of summer squash or zucchini when growing bush tomatoes. Ensure to maintain at least 24-36″ between both plants.

It is recommended to plant Tomato-Zucchini-Tomato-Zucchini in a zigzag pattern.

Keep watering the plant adequately for both the plants and prune the old lower leaves of tomatoes to maintain a good facility of airflow between the plants.

Carrots

Carrots are planted as good companion plants with tomatoes from years ago. Even a Book named Carrots Love Tomatoes was also written in 1975. You can grow it even in less space.

It is an orange-colored root vegetable planted in rows of tomato plants. It never competes for water and nutrients with tomatoes. You can tuck carrots anywhere in a tomato bed and increase the yield.

It loosens up the soil to accelerate the root zone of tomatoes. The tomato leaves contain Solanine Alkaloids, which are repellent to carrot pests and flies. 

Celery

Celery belongs to the Apiaceae Family and can be easily grown in the same bed of tomatoes. The little shade of tomatoes benefits the celery to growth.

It won’t work as a pest repellant, but celery benefits tomatoes due to its different growing habits and height. 

Onion

Onion is another good companion for tomato plants due to their strong Sulfarious smell. They do not compete with tomatoes for nutrients and soil. The presence of sulfur in onions repels flies, aphids, thrips, and beetles. 

As per Frontiers, “Companion cropping with potato onion enhances the disease resistance of tomato.” Tomato pathogens are reduced due to the presence of onions in the vegetable garden.

It is better to plant onions in rows or circles around tomatoes. Maintain at least a 6-8″ distance between tomatoes and onions while planting them.  

Lettuce

All the “salad” ingredients like Tomatoes, Lettuce, Onion, and Basil can be easily grown in one and the same garden and you can enjoy eating them together. Lettuce is also proven to be one of the best companion plants for tomatoes.

A partial shade of tomatoes is beneficial for lettuce to help them thrive. It benefits tomatoes by maintaining an accurate moisture level in the soil and weed control.

It is very economical to grow Lettuce and requires very few nutrients to thrive, supporting the tomato plant, a heavy feeder.

You can mix both head and baby Lettuce and plant them alongside tomatoes. But be sure to pinch or prune the lower leaves of tomatoes so they won’t harm lettuce. 

Beans

Tucking bush beans and pole beans, members of the Fabaceae and Legumes, alongside tomatoes benefit them due to their nitrogen-fixing capacity.

They produce Rhizobium Bacteria, which accumulate nitrogen from nature and synthesize it into plants. This releases more nitrogen in the root zones, which benefits tomatoes from using those nitrogens.

Beans support to grow and maximize the yield heavy feeding tomatoes properly. Bush beans can grow up to 12-18″ from the base of the garden bed of tomatoes.

Pole beans can also be grown in the same tomato bed.

Peas

Peas also benefit the tomato plants by sharing their nitrogen like Beans. Thus the combination of peas with tomatoes is also great. Planting Sugar Snap Peas, Cowpeas, and snow peas in your garden is excellent!

Peas do not limit benefiting tomatoes only with nitrogen. As per Agronomi Journal “Root-Knot Nematode Resistant Cowpea Cover Crops in Tomato Production Systems.” As Per Cambridge Core, cowpeas reduce infection of leafhoppers along with many other pests.

Interplanting peas and tomatoes both benefits each other by increasing the yields. Just ensure to plant peas in the north that it never shades sun-loving tomatoes. 

Radishes

A Brassicas family Plant, Radish, is one of the fastest growing crops, which produces yield before tomatoes fully develop. If both plants are at the same time, Radishes will start harvesting, whereas tomatoes will start to grow.

Radishes can be easily grown with heavy feeder tomatoes without harm as they won’t require much nutrition and space to grow. 

Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens contribute as a delicious ingredient for Spring and Summer Salads. Domesticated Dandelions, like tangy Red-Vined dandelions, are better than their wild counterparts. They are softer and less bitter.

As per the studies it can protect tomatoes from Fusarium Wilt Disease (attacks the root of young tomato plants) because of their allelopathic properties which release a compound in the soil to prevent tomato pathogens.

Harvest dandelion greens before flowering to avoid their spreading in the tomato beds. 

Chickweed

Chickweeds are full of nutrition and extra beneficial for tomatoes if planted together. They are called nutrition accumulators as it sucks potassium and phosphorus from the soil and shares it with your tomatoes.

The nectar of white blossoms of Chickweeds captivates early spring pollination agents, who love to pollinate your first tomato flowers.

Chickweeds are easy to grow and can be harvested anytime from your garden. 

Chard

Finally, yet important, Chard’s beautiful plant can fit best as a companion plant with tomatoes. Chards can be grown in the same bed with tomatoes if adequate 8-12 inches of space is maintained.

Their rainbow leaves can be used as an ingredient in a tomato salad. Start tucking in Cilantro and Basil as your tomatoes grow too large or else it may lead to reducing your versatile chard.

How To Prevent Negative Crop Interactions?

Companion plants might risk your tomatoes if they compete for nutrition, water, and sunlight.

If the companion plants crowd large growing tomatoes, they would definitely compromise their growth and development despite benefiting.

Preventing Antagonised Crop reaction:

• You should maintain adequate spacing between the companion plants. 
• Water adequately to reduce the risk of competition between the plants as companion planting requests more water.
• You should ensure enough exposure to sunlight for both plants.
• It is better to plant shade-tolerant and shallow-rooted plants beneath tomatoes.
• You should do time planting to avoid outgrowing both plants.

What are bad companion plants for tomatoes?

• Broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, and other brassicas. All these plants are heavy feeders like tomatoes. If planted together, they would compete for nutrients, and there are high chances of getting your crops destroyed. 
• Cauliflowers. Cauliflowers are also heavy feeders of nutrients. Thus you should never companion it with tomatoes. 
• Eggplant, peppers, potatoes, and other nightshades. Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, and eggplants, peppers, and potatoes also belong to the nightshade family. All these crops are prone to the same type of pests and same diseases and can share the same fungus and disease with tomatoes. 
• Fennel: fennel can never be companioned by any plants, and tomatoes are no exception.
• Walnut trees: walnut trees are rarely planted, but there is nothing harm in knowing about this. Juglone chemical is released from walnut trees which is responsible for walnut wilt and negatively impacts tomato growth and development and several other companion plants. 

Summary

As discussed in this article, tomatoes can be planted and benefited with various herbs, flowers, and vegetables. It can be damn beneficial and fun to grow companion plants with tomatoes. It can make the tomatoes resistant to many diseases and pests and attracts pollinators, resulting in a high yield. Due to tomato companion planting, you can grow multiple crops in the same tomato beds.