Tomatoes are like the measure of every good gardener. I actually know people who grow them, and don’t really care for them that much {weirdos}. Still, a bumper crop of tomatoes means you have arrived in the gardening world–you can officially wear dirt under you nails and a big straw hat with pride. Because tomatoes can succumb to about a million different problems {rough estimate}, they are one of my favorite crops to use companion planting on.
In the interest of keeping it simple, I decided to make a list of some of the plants that do well with tomatoes. Also, for the record, there are some discrepancies among gardeners about which plants go well and which don’t {I’ve noticed it in quite a few conflicts in my gardening books–who knew gardening could be so controversial? ;)}, so of course, if you have read conflicting information, just keep skimming down the list until you find another companion plant you like…
- Basil. It totally makes sense, basil and tomatoes taste amazing together. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
- Marigolds. Marigolds are like the golden child of companion planting. They deter pests, and they look good doing it.
- Carrots. Plant carrots a couple of weeks before you plant the tomatoes, to give them a chance, and then plant tomatoes in around them. That way, in the hot summer months, the tomatoes will shade the carrots. Fair warning: the carrots might be a little smaller, as the tomato roots will probably win the space battle, but they will be flavor-packed.
- Lettuce. Really, this one should be in a lettuce post. The tomatoes shade the lettuce in the hot summer months, making it easier to grow lettuce all year.
- Borage. Borage supposedly repels hornworms.
- Peppers. These work well together because they have a lot of the same growing requirements: full sun, nice hot soil, and similar watering needs.
- Beans. Beans provide nitrogen to the soil. Tomatoes love nitrogen. Beans and tomatoes sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. I’m twelve, I can’t help myself.
- Celery. Again, big ol’ tomato plants shade celery.
- Thyme, Parsley and Dill. Basically, a tomato and herb garden planted together are as happy as pigs in mud.
- Asparagus. You can plant your tomatoes all around your already established asparagus patch.
How about you, do you have any swear-by tomato companions?
~Mavis
Heidi says
When you said that you know gardeners that grow tomatoes even though they don’t like them, it made me think of Steel Magnolias. Ouiser explains why she grows tomatoes when she hates them…
“Because I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me those questions. I don’t know why, I don’t make the rules!”
I love that movie!
Jessica says
YES! Best movie ever!
I can only strive to be like Ouiser – all be it a Midwestern version – someday. 🙂
JC says
I’ve heard comflicting stories about companions as well, the beans are one that I was told not to plant near tomatoes. Interesting however.
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
The other bonus when you plant peppers and tomatoes together is that it makes crop rotation easier – they are in the same family (nightshades).
Inna says
My peppers didn’t do so well next to tomatoes. in fact I thought tomatoes didn’t leave much food for the peppers. Also, my peppers seemed to like water more than tomatoes and they didn’t give any harvest until it got cooler and my tomatoes were go eat by then. I wonder if it was also too hot for the peppers. I live in zone 9a.
Cheryl @ Living Design says
Last weekend I planted my tomatoes, eggplants and bell peppers all in a row down the property line. I did them in an alternating pattern with marigolds between so that it will look pretty. I may add some herbs and carrots into the patch too, to fill in space, but I also have those growing in a raised bed. But really, can you ever have too many basil plants?
Shannon says
Someone told me once that if you can eat it together, then you can grow it together. It makes sense and I’ve never had an issue choosing companion plantings.
Lana says
Looks like I am going to plant some lettuce seeds tomorrow then. It is still really cool here so maybe the shade of the tomatoes will allow it to thrive. Thanks!
Raymond Dean White says
Mavis, I’m glad you specified that you only plant tomatoes in an ESTABLISHED asparagus path. I made the mistake of planting tomatoes when my asparagus was only two years old and the tomatoes almost completely choked out the asparagus. Learned my lesson the hard way.
Terri says
Peas – they produce nitrogen for the tomatoes
Gary Garver says
Tomatoes may love nitrogen, but too much and you have big plants and nice looking. You then have less tomatoes.
Energy to grow large plants is less energy for tomato growth. Keep tomaoes away from beans and peas.
Rachel says
If you plant collard greens between tomatoe plants, your plants grow twice as fast and more then twice as big. I tried this in the worst spot in my garden and the best. The plants closest to the collards in the worst spot grew the biggest best and had the most tomatoes on it.
Ralph Micale says
Never plant beans next to tomatoes . Thei don’t like each other.