If you have gardened for any amount of time, you may have experienced challenges with pests, nutrition battles, and stunted growth. While there are many techniques, methods, and products out there that can help with all these things, I try to use the most natural methods first. One of those methods is called companion planting.

What is companion planting?
Companion planting uses other plants to help the growth and health of a specific plant. Along with its companions (or friends) are its enemies. The enemies are those plant that do not benefit the plant, causing it to slow its growth or attract pests that will destroy the plant.

In this post we are talking about tomatoes and its friends (and enemies). First, the good.

COMPANION PLANTS

Onions

Some great companions for the tomato are onions, peppers, celery, leaf lettuce, parsley, and marigolds. Onions, as we know, have a strong smell that can repel some pests that like to feast on tomatoes. Now, we are not talking all bulb onions because some bulb onions and tomatoes do not grow in the same season. Tomatoes are a warm/hot season plant and bulb onions are a warm/cool season veg. You can plant those in the summer, but they don't start to mature until the fall. However, you can plant green onions or chives to help repel tomato pests, even though there can be some overlap during the warm seasons.

Peppers

Another good friend, or more of a relative, are peppers. Tomatoes and peppers both belong to the Solanaceae (or nightshade) family. Like most families, they share certain characteristics and requirements, which makes this a good plant to be with. You will know if one plant needs to be fertilized, so will the other. Learn more about plant families HERE.

Celery

Many people would not think of celery as a companion plant, but it does something that some plants cannot. Because celery has long and strong tap roots, it can help loosen the soil, making room and paths for the earthworms. These earth worms make castings that are high in vitamins and minerals. This is beneficial to tomatoes because tomatoes like to eat a lot (aka heavy feeders).

Leaf Lettuce

Some gardeners choose to mulch their gardens with wood chips, straw, leaves, etc. But for those who do not and grow tomatoes, growing leaf lettuce is helpful. Leaf lettuce are companion for tomatoes because they act as mulch; covering the soil at the base of tomatoes to prevent erosion and nutrient depletion. As a bonus, the tomatoes create shade for the lettuce.

Parsley

Parsley is a great companion for tomatoes because they attract beneficial insects. One which are hoverflies.

Marigolds

These flowers are great to plant around lots of plants, but are very good for tomatoes because they deter nematodes, tomato worms, and slugs.

ENEMY PLANTS

While there are companions (or heroes) in the garden, there is also the villains *insert evil laugh. The villains are the enemy plants, or those plants that create issues for a plant. Tomatoes only have a few:

Brassica Family

All plants in the brassica family can inhibit the growth of tomatoes. These plants include cabbage, kale, and broccoli.

Fennel

Fennel also inhibits growth, but by release a substance. This substance slows the growth of the tomato plant from the root.

Corn

Any plant that attracts bad pests and is detrimental to another, you need to try to plant them far away from each other. Corn is that for tomatoes. Corn attracts earworms which will absolutely destroy tomato plants.

In summary…

I have created the below chart for reference:

If you need help with your tomatoes, tending your garden, need a planting plan, or full garden design, book a consultation or coaching session at 31eden.com/consult.

Happy growing!

Tomato Companion Planting