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Tomato and pepper plants together


Can You Plant Tomatoes and Peppers Together as Companion Plants?

Vegetables

Companion planting is always tricky. There are many plants that compliment each other well when grown together. But there are also plants that will cause problems for other plants grown nearby, if planted too close together. So what about Tomatoes and Peppers? Can you grow them next to one another in a successful garden? Organic Gardening expert Logan Hailey examines if planting these two veggies next to one another is a good idea or not.

By Logan Hailey Last updated: July 29, 2022 | 8 min read

Thinking of planting and growing some tomatoes together with some peppers in your garden? If so, there are some important things to consider before diving in. Companion planting adds all sorts of symbiotic benefits to garden plants, but it can also cause problems when done incorrectly.

Tomatoes shouldn’t be grown with potatoes and many other plants. But is there any harm from companion planting tomatoes together with peppers?

Read on to learn about the pros and cons of planting tomatoes and peppers in the same space. We’ll dig into the details of companion planting and specific crop needs to figure out whether or not these two veggies make good neighbors in the garden.

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What is Companion Planting? 

Companion planting is planting different plants together that would benefit from having the other there.

Based on the principles of biodiversity and agro-ecology, planting two symbiotic plants together is a practice that has been used for thousands of years. It is also called interplanting. Interplanting has become very popular in organic farming and gardening because it maximizes the diversity and yield of plants in a given space.  

The principle is based on natural ecology: you don’t often see a monoculture of just one type of plant growing wild. You see plants growing together and likely helping each other thrive. Certain plants improve each other’s growth when planted together.  

Companion planting means less disease and pest pressure for your crops because insects have a harder time finding plants to prey on. More diversity also means more resilience in the garden ecosystem because different plants are attracting different species of beneficial organisms both above and below ground. 

Types of Companion Planting  

Companion planting is sort of like symbiosis; it’s two organisms working together for the benefit of both, rather than competing for resources. There are a few different types of planting to achieve different goals:  

Attracting Beneficials  
Attracting beneficial nutrients is one of the main reasons gardeners companion plant.

Many flowers like white alyssum are interplanted with garden veggies to attract beneficial insects that prey on pests. These flowers create habitat and food sources for syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, and other “good guy” predators.

If your veggies require pollinators to fruit (most open-pollinated tomatoes, squash, and melons do), you may consider interplanting pollinator-attracting flowers like borage or phacelia.    

Maximizing Space and Light  
The space beneath tomato plants is an excellent place for partial-shade-loving plants.

Other symbiotic plantings are based on maximizing space and light. For example, lettuce enjoys a partially shaded environment during peak summer, so you can use the space below tomato plants to grow lettuce that won’t bolt in the summer heat. Lettuce is low-growing and tomatoes are tall, so they make perfect companions without competing for space or nutrients.  

This type of interplanting primarily pays attention to the structure of plants. Another example is corn and squash. Corn is tall and lanky, while squash vines close to the ground and tolerates some shade thanks to the broad leaves. These two plants complement each other because of their different dimensions of growth.  

Interplanting to Repel Pests 
Many plants repel pests and make great friends for many plants.

Some herbs like basil and parsley are interplanted with tomatoes to repel pests with their fragrance. Onions and allium-family crops (leeks, shallots, scallions) are also great at repelling pests from garden plants like peppers, beets, brassicas, and lettuce.  

Interplanting for Similar Crop Needs 

Plants from the same family share the same needs and work well next to each other.

When plants have similar nutrients, water, or growing needs, sometimes it’s just easiest to plant them together. Then you can maintain an entire area of the garden in the same way.

This is where tomato and pepper interplanting comes into play. Both of these crops are nightshades that require lots of nutrients, plenty of water, and full sunlight and heat. This could make them competitors, however, with proper steps, they can also work together.  

About the Nightshade Family: Solanaceae 

Plants from this heat-loving plant family have similar needs.

Solanaceae is the nightshade family that consists of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes, and wild nightshades. These crops are known for loving the heat and hating the cold. Solanaceous crops are typically planted after the last frost when days are reliably above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They prefer 75 to 90 degrees for the flowering and fruiting stages.  

They are long-season crops that require many days to mature. Peppers, in particular, take a long time to fully ripen and need care all summer long.

Tomatoes can reliably yield for the full season and typically only need one planting to provide your garden with ripe deliciousness all summer long. But most importantly, these nightshades have very similar soil, pH, nutrient, light, water, and pollinator needs.  

Interplanting Benefits

These two plants can work great together in the same garden.

In general, when two plants have similar needs or they complement each other’s growing habits, they could be great companion plants. The main benefits of planting peppers and tomatoes together are maximizing yields from a small space, optimizing soil conditions, concentrating water and nutrient needs, and attracting the same pollinators.  

Both of these veggies can both be trellised to maximize their yields. In terms of soil, they both like a pH of around 6 or 7 and plenty of fertility. They require a steady supply of water and prefer not to have water on the leaves (drip irrigation or soaker hoses are best).

Their flowers are similar and they both need plenty of pollinators to set fruit. They also work together to create a canopy of leaves that protects fruits from sun-scald.  

Potential Drawbacks 

Though they can be beneficial to plant next to each other, there can be some disadvantages to be aware of.

Where interplanting goes wrong is when plants start to overgrow or compete with each other. For example, if two crops are planted too close together they will both end up unhappy and potentially more susceptible to disease because they don’t have the space, water, and nutrients they need.  

It is important to provide enough space for companion plants to thrive. Airflow is also a major factor in success. With plants in the nightshade family, blights, tobacco mosaic virus, fungal diseases, and mildews can take hold in the moist parts of the season. As mentioned above, you should avoid overhead watering because it can encourage pathogens to grow on the leaf surfaces.  

For the best success, plant these plants at least 1-2 feet apart and keep up on your pruning. Pruning lower leaves and proper trellising ensure that tomatoes have plenty of airflow. Their pepper companions should be far enough away from the tomato plant to ensure aeration through the leaves.  

You may also want to choose disease-resistant seed varieties to ensure that this interplanting does not end up harboring pathogens. Rotate peppers and tomatoes to a different part of the garden each year to keep disease risk at bay.  

Should You Companion Plant Peppers and Tomatoes? 

Knowing how to companion plant can yield considerable results.

Taking the pros and cons into account, planting tomatoes and peppers together is totally fine as long as you take the steps outlined above. In a smaller garden or container garden, even just a few tomato and pepper plants could yield prolifically if they get enough space, water, and nutrients. Here are a few more quick tips for getting the most out of interplanting.  

Tips for Growing Peppers and Tomatoes Together

Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes 

There are a few common mistakes you may encounter when interplanting. But luckily, there are also some pretty easy fixes you can put into place to correct them.

Planting Too Close Together 

Plants need airflow to thrive so be sure to give them plenty of space.

Nobody wants to be crowded in a small space. Plants will suffer if they don’t have enough space to stretch out their roots and leaves. While seedlings may look small at the time of transplanting, consider how large they will be at full size. When in doubt, space the plants farther apart rather than too close together.   

Forgetting to Trellis or Stake 

Both plants need to climb and have support so provide a trellis for them.

Peppers and tomatoes are both prone to falling over once they are heavy with fruits in late summer. This means it is important to stake or trellis these plants so they don’t end up in a big messy pile. Don’t forget to trellis! Otherwise, you may regret planting these two veggies near each other.  

Avoiding Pruning  

The little side shoots on tomatoes are called suckers and should be removed to make room for airflow.

If you avoid pruning, your interplanting can go downhill pretty quickly. Pruning is the process of removing lower stems and leaves for airflow.

Suckering is also very important for tomatoes. Suckers are the tomato side shoots that come out of the “elbows” of the main stalk and side leaves. For maximum yields and minimum disease issues, you should remove suckers throughout the season so that you keep only one or two main “leader” shoots that grow upward and out. 

Not Enough Nutrients 

Organic fertilizer like compost helps both of these veggies to be healthy.

Both plants are prolific heavy-feeding plants. You need to amend your soil with high-quality compost and a few doses of organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion throughout the growing season. Peppers can use fertilizers that are similar in balance to tomatoes, which is another reason why these two veggies can grow well together.

Disease 

Keep an eye on your plants and immediately remove infected leaves to keep them from infecting the rest of the plant.

If early or late blights begin to take hold on your companion plants, it is best to remove infected leaves right away. Use a diluted neem solution to organically prevent and treat fungal pathogens throughout the season. Remember to keep plenty of airflow between plants with pruning. 

Pests 

Tomato hornworms are tomato-eating pests to keep away from your crops.

Unfortunately, nightshade crops are not immune to pests. The most common is the tomato hornworm (sometimes called the tobacco hornworm) which can harm both of these plants. These are very large caterpillars that are easy to remove if you stay on top of scouting. They can eat entire leaves and fruits in a single day, so it is best to stay on top of them.  

When your plants are small, you can cover peppers and tomatoes with a light row cover in the early season to keep the hornworm moths out of your garden and provide additional warmth to the growing seedlings.  

Final Thoughts 

Both of these veggies make great companions in the garden and a delicious pair in the kitchen. While there are many veggies that may not make the best companion plants, these two will get along just fine in most gardens. Happy planting!

Pepper companion planting: best plants to grow with peppers

(Image credit: Getty Images)

By choosing the best pepper companion planting combinations you will increase your chances of enjoying the biggest and tastiest homegrown crop of this popular vegetable.  

Companion planting is an age-old method for getting the most out of your vegetable plot. Although the science doesn’t always agree, many gardeners swear by it to deter pests and get the best harvest possible from their plants as part of their vegetable garden ideas.

Pepper companion planting is a useful method when learning how to grow bell peppers, as well as jalapeño peppers, whether you live in a hardiness zone where they can be grown outdoors, or are growing them under cover as part of your food to grow in a greenhouse.

Pepper companion planting

(Image credit: Unsplash)

'Pepper companion planting can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests or it could help improve pollination of fruit and vegetable crops,' says Sue Sanderson, horticultural executive at Thompson & Morgan . It is a recommended practice for those interested in permaculture gardening and can help you on your way to creating a sustainable garden with less need for manmade pest controls.

When it comes to companion planting peppers, you have two things to think about. First, what sort of pepper are you planting – is it a sweet bell pepper or a spicy jalapeño? Each of these will offer different benefits and pest fighting qualities to different companions – so it's important to bear this in mind when planning a kitchen garden.  

Second, it is key to consider the climate. In some regions, peppers can be planted outside but for the majority of places, pepper plants will need to be grown under glass when you are planning a greenhouse to mimic the temperatures they would enjoy in the hot climates from which they originate, or as vegetable garden container ideas so they can be grown in the sunniest and warmest spots. It is therefore vital that any companion plants will thrive in the same hotter conditions, so pick your plants and plan when to plant vegetables with this in mind.

Pepper companion planting – with vegetables

(Image credit: Hartley Botanic)

There are many vegetables that make good pepper companion plants. 

Whatever plants you choose, 'make sure not to plant them too close to your peppers so that the companions don't shade them, as peppers like sun,' says Idelle Fisher, garden blogger at Sandia Seed .  

Growing beets is a common choice when pepper companion planting. This pairing is particularly recommended if you are growing your peppers outdoors and don't want to use up valuable greenhouse space on hardy veg. The root vegetable helps to prevent weeds, while its low-level leaves help to keep the soil shaded, reducing evaporation. This creates a cool and moist environment in which the peppers can then thrive.

If you know how to grow carrots you'll be aware they grow deep in the soil with minimal foliage above the ground. Pepper companion planting therefore works well as it disturbs the soil, helping to control weeds. The carrots also provide a living mulch that improves the growth of the pepper.

If you are growing aubergines, or eggplant, they require the same growing conditions as peppers, so thrive when planted together. Rob Velseboer from Organic Edible Garden recommends 'companion planting peppers and chillis with eggplants for biodiversity, pairing with nasturtium and marigolds in and around them to attract beneficial insects. '

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Onions don’t take up much room which is at a premium when it comes to pepper companion planting. 'Their strong smell means that they  naturally deter aphids, rabbits and other pests – plus when harvested, they taste great with peppers,' says Sandia Seed's Idelle Fisher. This makes peppers good for onion companion planting.

For small vegetable garden ideas, growing asparagus is a great for saving space when pepper companion planting. When the peppers are small they do not compete with the asparagus, then once the asparagus is harvested in the spring, the growing peppers can commandeer the space. That's two crops for the price of one. 

Dwarf French beans are highly beneficial as pepper companion plants. 'Planting dwarf French beans in front of peppers in a greenhouse will fix nitrogen into the soil and feed the peppers, giving better harvests' says Rob Smith horticultural expert at Organic Garden Catalogue .

Spinach and lettuce are great for pepper companion planting as they're low growing. This means they don't shade peppers, letting them enjoy most of the sunshine, but will also provide ground cover and keep out weeds that will compete with the peppers for nutrients.

Pepper companion planting – with herbs

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Just like with vegetables, there are lots of herbs that are great pepper companion plants.

Basil is a favorite pick. 'In Crete, every veg patch is packed with basil, yet they hardly eat it; gardeners there are convinced that basil ups the productivity of aubergines and peppers so they leave it where it is,' says expert plantswoman Sarah Raven . Growing basil with peppers is easy to replicate in your own garden.

'It's worth remembering that basil is not a Mediterranean herb,' says Monty Don in this Gardener's World video , 'so it likes heat and moisture'. Thankfully, these conditions are very similar to those which enable peppers to flourish, making them great companions. Planting peppers with basil has also been reported to improve the flavor of the peppers come harvest.

Dill is another popular choice for pepper companion planting as it will 'attract beneficial insects,' says Rob Smith.

When planting peppers with herbs, think about next year, too. 'Let some of them bloom as plants for pollinators to feed the native bees and beneficial insects, then you can save the seed for replanting,' advises Idelle Fisher. 

Pepper companion planting – with flowers

(Image credit: Becky Searle)

Various flowers, as well as looking beautiful, have benefits for pepper companion planting.

Mountain marigold or Tagetes lemmonii is organic gardening expert Jekka McVicar of Jekka's Herb Farm top companion plant for peppers as it 'will attract the white fly in the glasshouse to itself, keeping other plants clean'. These are known as sacrificial plants and using trap plants for pest control can be very effective.

Petunias, which are among the best fly repellant plants, make great pepper companion plants. Not only do petunias add a splash of color to the hardest working area of the garden or greenhouse, but they also repel pests, like aphids, as well as attracting pollinators such as bees and hoverflies to your crops. 

(Image credit: Future)

Growing nasturtiums for pepper companion planting is a great choice, as the flowers act as a trap plant, luring aphids to feast on them rather than your precious peppers. 

Geraniums are another trap crop and are also believed to repel Japanese beetles, which when companion planted with peppers helps to protect your crop, too. An added bonus is they are among the best wasp repellant plants – particularly useful if your peppers are planted in a greenhouse.

Jalapeno pepper companion planting

(Image credit: Unsplash)

If you're specifically wondering 'what can I plant next to jalapeño peppers?' then there are lots of options, and many of those that make good companions for bell or sweet peppers, are also good for jalapeños.

Vegetable crops to grow alongside jalapeños include beans, peas, carrots and cucumbers. And therefore in reverse, peppers make good cucumber companion plants, and companions for the rest.

You can plant basil next to jalapeño peppers, which supposedly improves their flavor, as well as other herbs including marjoram, chives, parsley and dill.

Chamomile and marigolds help to deter pests, and have the added benefit of being plants for pollinators. 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What can you not plant next to peppers?

There are various plants that you can not plant next to peppers – or at least it is advised that you do not for various reasons.

Fennel – 'Florence fennel is allelopathic to other plants, which means it gives off a chemical that inhibits the growth of neighboring vegetables,' says Thomas Asche, editor of the Organic Edible Garden . 'When growing fennel, 'we recommend giving the crop a buffer zone of flowers on either side – low-growing varieties though so they don’t shade the plants.'

Strawberries are susceptible to a fungus called verticillium which will cause the strawberries to wilt and fail. 'Do not plant susceptible strawberry cultivars in soil where peppers, as well as other plants, have grown for the past five years.' says Michael A. Ellis from the Department of Plant Pathology at Ohio University . These plants can encourage verticillium which will destroy strawberries. Practising crop rotation can help avoid soil borne diseases.

Apricot trees, although among the best fruit trees to grow, should never be companion planted with peppers as apricots are susceptible to diseases that pass from peppers. These diseases can stunt the apricot tree's growth, reduce its fruit and ultimately kill the tree.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Can you plant two pepper plants together?

Yes two peppers can be planted together – in fact, planting peppers with other peppers will still produce very successful harvests. However, since they are self-pollinating you don't necessarily need more than one plant if you're short of space. Peppers can also be planted with chilli jalapeño peppers.

'Peppers should be spaced at 12-18inch between plants, stem to stem. For larger varieties, more space may be beneficial for easy access while harvesting,' advises Calvin and Crystalyn of Pepper Geek . 

Peppers need room to grow and produce a good crop, so ensure you leave enough space between plants. 

(Image credit: Getty Images/ NurPhoto)

Can pepper plants be planted next to tomatoes?

While you can grow pepper plants next to tomatoes, they don't make the best tomato companion plants. It's important to bear in mind that growing plant members of the Nightshade or Solacaceae families together can increase the risk that disease will spread among them, especially if they are grown in the same bed after each other.

So, if you have little space, plant them together, allowing the peppers to enjoy the dappled humidity and shade that peppers can offer them, and both to enjoy the similar growing conditions, then rotate next season.  

(Image credit: Jonathan Buckley/Sarah Raven)

Can you plant bell peppers and jalapeños together?

You can plant jalapeño peppers next to bell peppers or sweet peppers, as they both thrive in similar warm environments. 

Companion planting peppers next to jalapeños will also make both plants easier to look after since they need nearly identical care. This will reduce your workload while increasing your harvest.

However, if you intend on collecting the seed, try covering the blossoms with a mesh cloth bag. This is because peppers are very good at cross-pollinating and you may find you end up with hybrid seeds if you don’t keep them separate. 

Why not plant beans next to peppers?

While experts disagree on whether beans are good for pepper companion planting, Calvin and Crystalyn from Pepper Geeks reassure that, 'although there are arguments for and against growing green beans nearby peppers, we have never had issues with the combination. 

Green beans prefer neutral soil, while peppers prefer slightly acidic soil. However, the green beans will tolerate pH levels down to 5.5 and grow just fine. If you are tight on space, and want to grow both peppers and green beans, you likely won’t have any problems,' they add.

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature. 

Planting tomatoes next to peppers: pros and cons

Sergei Vadimovich asks: “Is it allowed to plant tomatoes next to bell peppers?”

Tomatoes are rather whimsical in placement with other crops. When planting with pepper, you should follow the rules. Pepper is strongly against shading. Between it, you should plant something low, for example, basil, melon. Arugula can be placed along the edges.

Tomatoes prefer a draft. You can plant tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers together in the greenhouse in the following order: from the north - cucumbers so that other plants do not shade. Everything else is from the south. Tomatoes in this case will grow, but not very successful due to high humidity. nine0003

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