There is nothing better than a warm sun-ripened tomato off the vine. It tastes like sunshine. That’s why I grow tomatoes every year. To make sure they do well, I also try to give them some friends or “companion plants”.
Companion plants are like your best friends, always looking out for you and asking for little in return. Garden companion planting can provide a variety of services like preserve moisture, repel pests, recharge nutrients, and enhance pollination. They might even increase production yield!
Figuring out what vegetables to plant together (or not together) isn’t an exact science. Rather, you should think of it a another tool in your toolbox. The simplest method to using companion planting is picking one or two to try each year.
Since there is no definitive guide to companion planting, I went to these generally reliable sources: The Farmer’s Almanac Companion Planting Chart, Burpee’s Companion Planting Guide, and Mother Earth News.
Related posts: 8 Simple Steps to Start a Garden; Where to Buy Seeds for Your Garden
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Tomato Companion Plants
Marigolds, the easiest companion plant, may be best one to start with. You can usually get a couple of 6-pack flats for a good price at your local plant supply store then “sprinkle” it throughout the garden beds.
I also love nasturtiums because they are a companion plant and edible. My grandmother always had them growing in a pot by the window. A beautiful garnish, they deliver a fun peppery taste.
Also food for thought, tomatoes supposedly help:
- Asparagus by repelling the asparagus beetle.
- Gooseberries by repelling insects.
- Roses by preventing black spot.
Click here to get a printable version of this list.
| Farmer's Almanac | Burpee | Mother Earth News | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | x | x | x |
| Basil | x | ||
| Beans | x | ||
| Borage | x | ||
| Carrots | x | x | x |
| Celery | x | x | |
| Chives | x | ||
| Cucumber | x | ||
| Dill | x | ||
| Garlic | x | ||
| Lettuce | x | ||
| Marigolds | x | ||
| Melons | x | ||
| Nasturtiums | x | ||
| Onions | x | x | x |
| Parsley | x | x | x |
| Peppers | x | x | |
| Radishes | x | ||
| Spinach | x | ||
| Thyme | x |
What Not to Plant with Tomatoes
Generally, tomatoes don’t do well with members of the brassica family like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.
| Farmer's Almanac | Burpee | Mother Earth News | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | x | x | |
| Brussels sprouts | x | ||
| Cabbage | x | ||
| Cauliflower | x | ||
| Corn | x | x | x |
| Dill (mature) | x | ||
| Fennel | x | ||
| Kale | x | x | |
| Kohlrabi | x | x | |
| Potatoes | x | x | x |
Where to Buy Tomato Seeds
Check out my post on Where to Buy Seeds for Your Garden.
