Growing your own tomatoes in the garden is a rite of passage for many new gardeners. If you are planting tomatoes this year, there are some companion plants you need to know about. Companion planting has many benefits in the garden. Today you will find out about tomato companion plants. Which plants grow best when they are planted near tomato bushes?
The Benefits of Companion Planting
Fewer Pests and Diseases
Many of the plants that you can grow near vegetables will help keep away pests and some diseases.
Companion plants like marigolds produce a smell that harmful insects simply can’t stand. This will help to reduce the number of pesticides you have to use.
Aids In Pollination
A great way to improve your harvest yields is to plant some flowering plants in your vegetable garden. These nectar-filled plants will attract bees and other pollinators, that will help your tomato plants thrive.
It Saves Space
When you practice companion planting you can get more use out of your garden space. By planting different flowers, herbs, and vegetables together, you will have a larger harvest.
It Can Improve Flavor
Companion planting can help improve the flavor of many vegetables. For example, when you plant basil next to tomatoes, it can help bring out the flavor of the fruit of the plant.
Tomato Companion Plants
Celery
One of the best plants to grow next to tomatoes is celery. The roots of the celery plant will keep the soil loose, which will attract earthworms.
Having earthworms in the garden will help improve the soil, because they provide a natural fertilizer that is rich in nutrients.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers and tomatoes make great companions. When you plant cucumbers near tomatoes plants, they will cover the ground and reduce weeds.
Also, the blooms of the cucumber plant will attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Lettuce
When you think of companion planting one of the best plants to pair with tomatoes is lettuce.
Lettuce can help protect the soil in empty spaces by preventing erosion. In turn, the tomatoes provide much-needed shade to the lettuce helping both plants thrive.
Cowpeas
Another great plant to grow near tomatoes is cowpeas. This garden plant will help keep stinkbugs away from your tomatoes. Stinkbugs are a real problem for tomatoes, because they love to eat the fruit of the plant.
Collard Greens
Many people who fight pests in the garden will plant collard greens near tomato plants. Collards will attract and trap many of the bugs that like to feed on tomatoes. You won’t get to enjoy the greens, however you will have a pest-free tomato harvest.
Carrots
Planting carrots next to tomatoes will help keep the soil loose. Having loose soil will allow water and nutrients to get to the roots of the tomato plant, helping it grow strong and tall.
Borage
Borage is a beautiful flower-producing herb that can be grown next to tomato plants. This plant helps to attract bees and other pollinators giving you a larger tomato yield. In addition to attracting pollinators, borage will help improve the flavor of ripe tomatoes.
Basil
Another herb that will help improve the flavor of tomatoes is basil. Basil also helps to deter the tomato hornworm, which is always a pest for gardeners, especially in the south. This amazing herb produces a smell that masks the scent of other plants, keeping them safe from bugs.
Dill
Most of you are familiar with the herb dill. Dill is widely used in the culinary world, and it also makes a great companion plant for tomatoes.
This herb puts out a smell that attracts predatory wasps. These flying insects are known to feed on tomato hornworms and other bugs that like to attack tomatoes.
Marigolds
Marigolds are probably the most well-known companion plant for tomatoes. Many gardeners add this flower to the garden, and for good reason. Marigolds help to protect tomatoes plants from root rot by keeping away slugs and other garden pests.
Oats
When most of us think of garden plants, we don’t think of oats. However, when you plant oats near tomato plants, they will help reduce the need to weed. Oats block out weeds and keep them from becoming a problem in the garden.
Radish
We all love to plant radish in the garden. Radish is easy to grow, and you can plant it several times during the growing season. If you plant radish near tomato plants, the radish plant will act as a trap crop for flea beetles.
Flea beetles will leave your tomato plants alone and instead go after the leaves of the radish. You may not have the best radish harvest, but you will have plenty of tomatoes to enjoy.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, when planted alongside tomatoes, will help reduce disease in the garden. The large leaves of the sweet potato vine will shield the tomato plants from getting splashed by soil.
Garden soil can contain diseases, and when combined with water, can affect tomato plants. Sweet potatoes will also help keep weeds out of the garden, which will save you time.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are not only beautiful when grown in the garden, they also make the perfect companion plant. These tall-growing plants produce a high level of nectar that will bring in all types of pollinators.
Planting sunflowers is one of the best ways to help improve the yield of your tomato plants.
Thyme
Last but not least, we have thyme. This familiar herb is always a good pick when it comes to companion planting. Thyme will help prevent insects from laying eggs on the leaves of the tomato plant.
Additionally, when thyme starts to drop its leaves, it will create ground mulch for tomato plants. This will help reduce weed growth and make growing a garden much easier.
Tomato companion plants: Conclusion
Now that you know more about companion plants, why not add some to your tomato patch this year. Not only will these companion plants help improve your tomato yield, they will also keep away bugs and disease.
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