Are you wondering which herbs , flowers , or vegetable make the best garden chum for your tomatoes ?
Growing different comrade plants with your tomato can help furnish nutrients , protect from pest , or attract pollinators .
Companion planting is the growing beneficial union of plants together in a polyculture expressive style garden .
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Ourguide to the scientifically - backed benefit of companion plantinghas more data .
In this clause you ’ll acquire about 21 of the respectable tomato plant fellow traveller plants to help oneself you grow the juiciest , most abundant harvest yet !
And in case you involve a refresher course , our guide to growing tomatoeshas full refinement didactics .
Here ’s a quick overview of your options :
21 of the Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes
1 . Basil
2 . bean
3 . beet
4 . Borago officinalis
5 . Calendula
6 . carrot
7 . Cilantro
8 . Cosmos
9 . ail
10 . Garlic Chives
11 . Hairy Vetch
12 . marigold
13 . Okra
14 . Onions
15 . Oregano
16 . Petroselinum crispum
17 . Peas
18 . Rue
19 . Sweet Alyssum
20 . Thyme
21 . Zinnias
Plants to stave off
A fragrant garden herbaceous plant , basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) is known for its delicious flavor pairings with tomato plant .
But sweet basil also makes a good tomato associate plant life in the garden , too , thanks to its power to guard offwhiteflies , thrips , andhornworms .
And one study of tomatoes and basil growing together in a greenhouse reason out that this mate increase the take of both !
Not certain whichtype of basilto choose ?
‘ Genovese ’ basilhas large leaves , produce it complete for pesto and caprese salads .
‘ Genovese ’ Basil Seeds
you may buy constitutional ‘ Genovese ’ basil seed in a choice of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Check out our guide to growing St. Basil the Great .
Beans ( Phaseolusspp . andVignaspp . ) are excellent love apple companion plant .
With the assistance ofbeneficial microbes , these annual serve fix nitrogen in the soil – that think of they do n’t justtakenutrients from the soil , they alsogiveback !
And you do n’t have to stick topole beanswhen looking for tomato comrade plant life – nerveless - seasonfava beansand warm - season cowpeas also make honest garden buddies !
A type ofblack - eyed pea , ‘ California Blackeye # 5 ’ is a bush motley that will make up to gamey heat , and both humidityanddry precondition .
‘ California Blackeye # 5 ’ Cowpea seed
You ’ll receive ring of 200 ‘ California Blackeye # 5’available at Burpee .
discover more about growing bean plant here .
spring up cool season radical crop like beet ( Beta vulgaris ) to take advantage of the belowground real demesne in your vegetable garden – while warm season tomatoes come out to develop by their side !
As beets ripen , you may glean them , making more way for your‘Cherokee Purple’or‘Mortgage Lifter’tomato crop to become found !
‘ Shiraz ’ is an heirloombeet varietywith splendid disease opposition .
‘ Shiraz ’ Beet Seeds
beak up packets of ‘ Shiraz ’ beet seeds in a wide reach of sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
happen our guide to growing beets here .
Borage ( Borago officinalis ) is a fuzzy - leafed annual with star - shaped blue flowers , that make an splendid tomato fellow traveler works in the vegetable garden .
A favourite with pollinator andbeneficial insects , by growing these flowers alongside your eatable crops , borage will help to keep dirt ball pest in check .
Borage Seeds
constitutional borage seeds are available in a diverseness of package sizesfrom True Leaf Market .
memorise more about borage in our growing template .
Calendula may be idealistic for induce teaandskin - soothe oil , but that ’s not all – you could also use it as a garden companion for tomatoes !
Also known as pot marigold , calendula ( Calendula officinalis ) attracts a all-inclusive raiment of insects , include the mirid bug , which is a predatory worm that targets whiteflies .
Ourarticle about calendula and pestshas more information about its United States as a associate plant .
With a high-pitched resin subject , ‘ Resina ’ is a mostly chicken - blooming calendula , though have a bun in the oven a few orange flush as well .
‘ Resina ’ Calendula Seeds
Find ‘ Resina ’ calendula cum in a large salmagundi of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Ourguide to growing calendulahas more information about this herbaceous plant .
Like beets , cultivated carrot ( Daucus carota ) make sound companion plants by sharing garden blank space – they handily bring about roots underground while tomatoes work their way skywards on trellises .
But that ’s not the only benefit – needs a random Daucus carota sativa plant life will bolt , grow flowers instead of developing succulent roots .
When it happens , treat it as a lucky accident – cultivated carrot flowers are like a spread for pollinator , including good wasps !
If you ’re maturate in containers orsquare foot gardenraised beds , blame acarrot varietythat does n’t produce super prospicient roots , such as ‘ Danvers . ’
‘ Danvers ’ Carrot seed
Grab parcel of ‘ Danvers ’ Daucus carota sativa seeds in a variety of sizesfrom Burpee .
Andread our guidebook to growing carrots to learn more .
jazz it or detest it , Coriandrum sativum ( Coriandrum sativum ) is n’t just a coolheaded season herbaceous plant that is utter for garnishing beans and rice .
Right about the time your Lycopersicon esculentum transplants are getting comfy in the garden , coriander plant will make off , bring forth efflorescence top dog that attract multitudes of good insects .
‘ leisure time ’ is acilantro varietythat is slow to run out , give you more delicious foliation before plants turn into pollinator magnet !
‘ leisure time ’ Cilantro Seeds
‘ Leisure ’ Cilantro seed are available in a mixed bag of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Our usher to growing cilantrohas more entropy .
Cosmos ( Cosmosspp . ) is an annual flower that is as beautiful as it is useful .
The flowersattract bees to the gardenand bee will help bring forth a bumper crop by pollinating your tomato plant plants !
When pick out from the many different character of cosmos flowers , judge to beak those that have simple rather than forked peak , to make them as helpful and attractive to pollinator as possible .
One of my favoritetypes of cosmosfor pull pollinators is Sensation Blend , which amount in a mixture of ashen , pinkish , lavender , and magenta blooms .
Sensation Blend Cosmos Seeds
Nab packets of organic Sensation Blend sow in a sort of sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
hear more about growing macrocosm here .
Tomatoes and Allium sativum are another pure coupling in a pan – and also in the garden !
With its pungent scent , garlic ( Allium sativum ) help ward off several pests , includingflea beetle .
‘ Silver Rose ’ is a softneckgarlic varietywith a mild flavor and a beautiful silvery pinkish pelt .
‘ Silver Rose ’ Garlic Bulbs
cull up half pound packs of ‘ Silver Rose ’ Allium sativum bulbsfrom Burpee .
Learn how to maturate ail here .
In general , herbs make splendid plant partners , offering the benefit ofpest defensethanks to the fragrant compounds in their leaf .
So it ’s not surprising that research indicate ripe yields for tomato crops when they are interplanted with genus Allium such aschives ( Allium schoenoprasum ) .
In particular , there is an abundance of data on using garlic chives ( A. tuberosum ) to ward off pests – no doubt because of the barbed volatile constitutional compounds the plants create !
Garlic Chive seeded player
you may purchase organic garlic chive seeds in a smorgasbord of pack sizesfrom lawful Leaf Market .
Learn more about garlic chives here .
Hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa ) is acover cropthat provides multiple benefit as a companion plant for tomato plant .
This legume fixes nitrogen in the soil , it can be used as a greenish mulch when grow underneath other plant , and it also helps protect crops from diseases !
With so many benefits , hairy vetch is simplyone of the secure cover cropsto grow in your vegetable garden .
Hairy Vetch Seeds
you could purchase constitutive haired vetch cum in a selection of pack sizesfrom True Leaf Market .
You may have find out that marigolds ( Tagetesspp . ) make first-class companion plants in the garden – and rightfully they are !
Marigolds repelroot burl - nematode , pests that will assail somewhat much all other garden plants , including tomato .
Our pathfinder to thebenefits of acquire marigolds with tomatoesgoes into more particular .
Looking for atype of marigoldthat will facilitate with plague ascendance in the garden ?
Why not taste the lovelyFrench marigold ( T. patula)cultivar ‘ Red Metamorph ? ’ It has dark red petals and gold centers .
‘ Red Metamorph ’ Marigold Seeds
You ’ll find ‘ Red Metamorph ’ marigolds in gang of 36 seedsavailable at Botanical Interests .
Read our pathfinder to produce marigold here .
If you enjoy cooking with lady’s-finger , you ’ll be exalt to fuck that this craw make a great plant brother for your tomatoes .
Interplanting lady’s-finger ( Abelmoschus esculentus ) and tomatoes supposedly increases the overall payoff of the garden plot of land .
There are many fabuloustypes of okraand my favorite is ‘ Burgundy , ’ with its thick purple pods .
‘ Burgundy ’ Okra seed
you’re able to discover ‘ Burgundy ’ Abelmoschus esculentus seeds available in a variety of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
con how to spring up gumbo here .
onion plant flora ( Allium cepa ) have a acrid odor that can fox and dissuade pests , which is one reason why they are ideal for growing with tomato plant .
These alliums can also protect your crop from disease such as Verticillium wilt disease by contribute immune - boosting sulfur compound .
‘ Evergreen Long White ’ is a stale hardy heirloombunching onionvariety .
‘ Evergreen Long White ’ Bunching onion plant
you may find ‘ Evergreen Long White ’ bunching onion seed in a choice of packet sizesfrom Burpee .
Check out our guide to growing onions here .
Are you a fan ofMediterranean herbs ? Well , so are tomato plant , especially when it comes to oregano ( Origanum vulgare ) !
Oregano stop volatile fossil oil that repel pests such as whiteflies .
Since this herbaceous plant can be grown as a perennial , you may desire to tame it in a container and rank the pot near your love apple plant .
There aremany unlike types of oregano , butGreek oreganois certainly my favorite !
Greek Oregano Seeds
regain Greek oregano seeded player in a variety of mail boat sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Read our guide to growing oregano next .
If you love the idea of using herb as companion flora , here ’s another one for your list : Petroselinum crispum ( Petroselinum crispum ) .
Parsley attract good louse like ladybugs , spiders , and hoverflies , all of which predate on pests that difficulty plants in the nightshade family like tomatoes .
To put up the good worm with forage , you ’ll need to allow this biennial industrial plant to bloom .
Italian mat leaf parsley is easy to clean than the curly kind , make it a child’s play to transform into pesto or tabouleh .
Italian Flat Leaf Parsley Seeds
Organic Italian compressed leaf Petroselinum crispum seed is useable in an regalia of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Learn more about growing Petroselinum crispum here .
Like beans , peas ( Pisum sativum ) are atomic number 7 fixers , and as a result of this , one study showed that growing pea plant with tomatoes increase tomato production by 20 percentage !
And since peas are nerveless season crops , correct about the time you ’re harvesting the delicious pods , it ’ll be clip to transplant your tomato starts .
Not everyone have it away the distinctive taste of garden peas , so if you ’re looking for something a scrap milder , considersnow pea , which are just as promiscuous to grow .
‘ Oregon Sugar Pod II’snow pea grow on short vines and are disease resistant .
‘ Oregon Sugar Pod II ’ Snow Pea Seeds
Purchase ‘ Oregon Sugar Pod II ’ Baron Snow of Leicester pea plant seedsfrom Botanical Interests .
find out more about turn pea here .
Rue ( Ruta graveolens ) , a appendage of the citrus family , is a abruptly - hold out repeated herbaceous plant you’re able to total to your raised bed , dustup , orcontainer herb garden .
When interplanted with Ruta graveolens as part of anintegrated pest managementstrategy , tomato harvest increase compared to the same craw maturate in a monoculture .
Rue seed
you’re able to find rue seeds in a pick of packet sizesfrom True Leaf Market .
honeyed alyssum ( Lobularia maritima ) is an annual that grows as a priming cover that can act as a living mulch under tall veggie plants like tomatoes orpeppers .
seraphic alyssum also attract beneficial insects such as wasp that can help protect your plants from herbivorous dirt ball .
This companion plant blossom in shade of white , or purple – or pink , like the pretty cultivar , ‘ Rosie O’Day . ’
‘ Rosie O’Day ’ Sweet Alyssum Seeds
you could witness ‘ Rosie O’Day ’ perfumed genus Alyssum seedsavailable from Botanical Interests .
Read ourguide to produce sweetened alyssumfor more selective information .
Like seraphic madwort , thyme ( Thymusspp . ) can act as a living mulch and it also produces pest - repelling fickle organic compound .
In one study , it was concluded that thyme helped with root exploitation , blossoming , and fruiting of tomato plants .
vernacular Thyme Seeds
Pick up packs of constitutional common thyme seeded player in an mixed bag of sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
discipline out our guide to growing thyme to discover more .
Along with cosmos , annual zinnia flowers ( Zinniaspp . ) always take a top place in my vegetable garden – but I do n’t just grow them for their ripe looks !
Zinnias increase the comportment of predatory insects and spiders in the garden – which means they ’ll help hold in populations of garden gadfly that affect tomato !
For best outcome helping out beneficial insects , prefer atype of zinniathat has single rather than double blooms as these are better provider of nectar and pollen .
County Fair Blend is a mixture of unmarried - blossom blooms in pinkish , orangish , red , purple , and amber .
County Fair Blend Zinnia Seeds
you could find County Fair Blend old maid seed usable in a variety of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
Our scout to growing zinnias has more information .
In addition to these 21 beneficial companion plants , you ’ll also want to know which types of garden plants to avoid growing next to your tomato plant .
1. Corn
Cornis known to be a heavy feeder , which means it will contend with your tomatoes for soil nutrients , and in addition , they are prostrate to the same pestilence , such as the corn earworm .
To lower the risk of spread out these pests throughout your vegetable patch , do n’t implant corn and tomatoes side by side .
2. Eggplant
Eggplantmay savor delicious when geminate with tomatoes , but you may want to invalidate set them side by side .
Since they are both from the nightshade mob , the plants are attacked by the same pests and disease .
One scheme for ascertain plague organically is to make it harder for them to get at your crops .
When you rise members of the same plant life family together , pest can simply hop from one to the other !
3. Potatoes
Also from the same plant life family the humblepotatois close related to the tomato .
Hornworms will chow down on white potato with as much relish as they will devour your other nightshade industrial plant .
The two crop are also targets of some of the same diseases , like blight .
Take Your Pick of Plant Pals
You now have pile of pick for companion plant to develop with your love apple . But there ’s no intellect to be finical !
pick out more than one of these to increase the welfare : defecate good use of the soil nutrients in your garden , appeal plague vulture , preventing pest and disease spread , and providing grass for helpful pollinator .
Want to dig even deeper into theart of growing unadulterated tomatoes ? We have more reading for you right on here :
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Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
