What grows good next to tomatoes

Companion Herbs for Tomato Gardens

Worst Tomato Companion Plants

These plants are infamous for inhibiting tomato plant growth and increasing their susceptibility to pests or diseases and should not be planted with tomatoes.

• Cabbage (Brassica) family: Relatives of cabbage cultivars stunt the growth of tomato plants (including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, ornamental kale, kohlrabi, rutabaga varieties, and turnip). However, some gardeners do like placing collard greens a few feet away from their tomato plants to lure away damaging harlequin bugs.
• Sweet Corn: The corn earworm is the same as the tomato fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea). Growing plants in proximity that are susceptible to the same pests can invite disaster and a decimated garden.
• Eggplant, hot peppers, and heirlom potatoes: These plants are in the nightshade family like tomatoes, and are all susceptible to early blight and late blight, which can build up in the soil and get worse each year. Avoid planting them near each other or in place of each other for at least three years. Tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata, the larva stage of the five-spotted hawkmoth) love the foliage and fruit of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants and can quickly decimate plants. Also, planting tomatoes near potatoes can make the potatoes more susceptible to potato blight.
• Fennel: Fennel secretes a substance from its roots that inhibits tomato plant growth. This secretion affects many other garden plants, too. However, some gardeners deploy fennel to manage aphid invasions.
• Walnuts: Do not plant tomatoes under walnut or butternut trees, which produce an allelopathic chemical called juglone that inhibits the growth of tomatoes (and all the members of the nightshade family). Tomatoes are also susceptible to the disease walnut wilt.

Tomatoes and Roses

While several plants are touted as terrific tomato companions, tomatoes can act as companion plants, too. Tomatoes have been shown to protect flowering roses from a disease called black spot.

If you can't plant tomatoes among your roses, make a spray of liquefied tomato leaves, a tablespoon of cornstarch, and about 4 pints of water. Spritz your roses once a week to keep black spot at bay.

Great Companion Plants for Roses

Article Sources

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Cover Crops. USDA.

2. Pest Control Companion Planting Chart. Brigham Young University. 

3. Phytophthora Blight. University of Massachusetts Vegetable Extension Program.

4. Baker, Brian P. and Grant, Jennifer A. Garlic and Garlic Oil Profile. New York State Integrated Pest Management. Cornell University.

5. Companion Planting Chart. University of California Cooperative Extension.

6. Gardening: It’s a Risky Business. Mississippi State University Extension, 2019. 

7. Gevens, Amanda; Seidl, Anna; Hudelson, Brian. Late Blight. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, 2017.

8. Bauske, Mitchell J.; Robinson, Andrew P.; Gudmestad, Neil C. Early Blight in Potato. North Dakota State University, 2018. 

9. Herb Gardening. Colorado State University Extension.

10. Walnut Wilt. Kansas State University Research and Extension, 2022.

11. Gray, Laveryne. Companion Plantings: Tomatoes and Roses. Marion County Master Gardeners.  

What can be planted next to tomatoes in the greenhouse and outdoors

What to plant next to tomatoes is not an idle question. The volume and quality of the future harvest sometimes directly depends on the neighbors in the garden. If you choose the right options for garden crops for joint plantings, the plants will grow healthier and stronger - checked!

Even if you do not have the goal of saving space on the plot (in the greenhouse) and your own forces for processing the beds, you should carefully approach the issue of selecting neighboring crops. Firstly, so that they do not exchange the same diseases and pests, and secondly, so that they do not oppress each other. In the best case, properly selected companions will even help neighboring plants, creating a kind of symbiosis in the garden.

What can be planted with tomatoes outdoors

So, what to plant next to the tomatoes in the same garden? For example, legumes ( beans or beans ), which will enrich the soil and improve its structure. In general, this applies to the neighborhood of tomatoes with almost any green manure - mustard (and it will also help against late blight and scab), phacelia, cereals .

Perfect combination of tomatoes and greens - all types lettuce, parsley, celery, onion, spinach, asparagus, sorrel ... But with umbrellas (dill, fennel) and lemon balm, it is better to avoid the neighborhood of tomatoes.

It's also a good idea to surround tomatoes with herbs: plant thyme, sage, mint, basil . By the way, ordinary nettle and borage (borage) repel soil pests, prolong the shelf life of fruits and even improve the quality of tomato juice! In general, almost any herbs and green crops help tomatoes suffer less from harmful insects.

Is it possible to plant cabbage next to tomatoes? Yes, provided that it is head and early (for example, varieties Nakhodka, Express, Miracle ultra early ). Cabbage seedlings are planted in the garden in the spring, with a distance between rows of at least 1.5 m. And when it finally gets warmer, between plantings you you can place tomato seedlings, which will feel great.

By the way, with such a neighborhood you will please not only tomatoes, but also cabbage itself - cabbage butterflies do not like neighborhoods with nightshade, which means that your crop will remain untouched.

Such plantings can also be "diluted" with onions and garlic , which will not only fit perfectly into the company of cabbage and tomatoes, but will also release phytoncides, protecting all neighbors from phytophthora.

Suitable for neighbors with tomatoes and "imposter", it is also Peking cabbage , which is actually one of the subspecies of turnip. Peking will feel great as a planting compactor "at the feet" of tomatoes.

But peas, cauliflower, broccoli and kohlrabi are not the best neighbors for tomatoes.

Plant marigolds in a bed with tomatoes (or even around the perimeter of the entire garden), they perfectly repel insect pests.

Root crops - carrots, radishes and beets - also get along well with tomatoes even on the same bed.

Good "partners" for tomatoes are also gourds - melons and watermelons , unless of course your site allows you to grow such light and heat-loving wonders. For our latitudes, tomatoes are more likely to be adjacent to another representative of this group - from pumpkin , with whom they also have a great relationship.

An interesting idea would be the combined planting of tomatoes and early strawberries - and save space, and get two crops from one garden bed (both berries and vegetables). Just make sure that the selected tomato variety is not too tall and does not take away all the sunlight from the strawberries.

It must be understood that tomatoes can not only benefit from neighboring plants, but they themselves can be excellent partners. For example, when planting tomatoes next to berry bushes ( currant, gooseberry ) they will drive away the moth and sawfly from the last.

And if you plant tomatoes near bird cherry , then it will scare away the nightshade scoop.

Today there are many varieties and varieties of all the above crops. Consider their characteristics (ripening time, growth and size of the plant) so that they "like the tomato" as the main crop.

The most unfortunate neighbors for tomatoes are potatoes and corn. At a minimum, all of them are very demanding on nutrients in the soil, which means that they will simply be strong food competitors. Secondly, they either have the same diseases in their "history" (late blight), or suffer from the invasion of the same pests (Colorado potato beetle, cotton scoop, wireworm), which they can "exchange".

What to plant next to tomatoes in a greenhouse

To grow tomatoes in a closed room with its own microclimate, and even with neighbors, you need to clearly remember the requirements of the main crop. Tomatoes prefer good lighting (however, cloudy weather is not critical for them), moderate air temperature, frequent airing, regular fertilizing and watering under the root. When choosing greenhouse neighbors, you need to focus on plants with similar requirements. When deciding what else can be planted in a greenhouse along with tomatoes, you also need to take into account the size of the room, the material of the roof and walls, the presence of additional doors and vents.

So, with what you can plant tomatoes in a greenhouse. According to the above example with the open ground option, in the greenhouse, for starters, in the same way, before planting tomatoes, early and fast-growing crops can be densely sown - onions and garlic for feathers, lettuces, radishes, kale . When the time comes for seedlings of tomatoes, just make room for them among these crops and for at least a month you will be able to harvest "pioneers" while the tomatoes are just developing.

What else? Almost all the same crops that we described above, if you prefer to grow them in a greenhouse - gourds, legumes, greens, cabbage, strawberries, spicy herbs . .. The main thing is not to forget to tie tall and voluminous tomato bushes so that they do not obscure from the sun of smaller brothers in the greenhouse.

Consider some of the most frequently asked questions about the possible neighbors of tomatoes in the greenhouse.

Is it possible to plant tomatoes and cucumbers side by side

Cucumbers and tomatoes in a greenhouse, in principle, do not interfere with each other. The main problem may be their different microclimate requirements. Judge for yourself.

Tomatoes :

• prefer moderate temperatures and dry air,
• require regular ventilation of the greenhouse,
• very picky about fertilization,
• love root watering.

Cucumbers :

• prefer high temperatures and high humidity,
• do not tolerate drafts,
• may well do without other plentiful dressings, provided that organic matter is applied in a timely manner,
• love abundant watering and sprinkling.

Therefore, if possible, it is better to settle these crops in different greenhouses or take the cucumbers into the open ground under the film.

Is it possible to plant peppers next to tomatoes

Tomatoes and peppers have quite similar requirements for humidity and temperature conditions in the greenhouse. In addition, peppers, like tomatoes, need a garter. So a common trellis is quite suitable for them - at a height of about 2 m, stretch the wire.

Tomatoes will also help repel aphids that love peppers.

However, peppers and tomatoes belong to the same family (Solanaceae), which means that they share the same diseases and pests, which will perfectly roam from one crop to another. If you are able to provide good protection against insects and infections for both, feel free to plant these plants together (a checkerboard pattern is recommended). The presence of marigolds around the perimeter of the structure will also help.

Just remember that both cultures love the light, so do not thicken the plantings, and also tie the plants in time and correctly.

Can eggplants be planted next to tomatoes

The main problem of joint cultivation of tomatoes and eggplants in a greenhouse is the same as in the previous case - common diseases and pests of the same family.

Their microclimate requirements are not particularly similar:

• eggplant needs much more light for full development,
• eggplant is a more thermophilic crop than tomato,
• eggplant likes much more humid air than tomatoes,
• Eggplant needs more moisture when watering.

Therefore, if possible, avoid growing these crops in the greenhouse at the same time.

If this is not possible (this also applies to the case with cucumbers and peppers), and you are determined to grow both plants this season, try to optimize their place of residence, somehow delimit the territory of the greenhouse into areas with different microclimates . This can be done using self-made (plywood, plastic film, non-woven material) or industrially (special modules) partitions. It is also good to separate crops into separate beds - heat-loving ones are planted away from the entrance and drafts, and tomatoes are placed closer to the greenhouse doors.

In any case, placing crops that are not very compatible in the same greenhouse, be prepared for a slight decrease in the yield of each of them.

And, of course, if you are waiting for a plentiful harvest, growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, you should remember not only about their neighbors, but also about the rules for caring for them and competent agricultural technology.

In any case, each plot or greenhouse has its own size, soil, microclimate ... Even if you follow the above recommendations, keep in mind that they are quite general. Only your personal experience and observations of your own plants will help you choose the right growing method.

Information about what can be planted with tomatoes will not be complete without knowing what should not be planted with them in any case. Find the best way to combine plants in the garden and enjoy a great harvest!

What to plant with a tomato? Good and bad companion plants for tomatoes. Photo - Botanichka

Like all living things, some plants are well compatible, while others do not get along well when planted together. Compatible plants usually provide some benefit to each other. For example, one plant may attract insects that will help pollinate another. The root systems of some plants also work well together. In this article, we will look at the combination of tomatoes with other plants. According to the observation of gardeners, planting tomatoes next to some crops brings additional benefits - it increases the strength of plant growth and the quality of fruits. And other companions, on the contrary, harm tomatoes.

Flowers compatible with tomatoes

Many beautifully flowering plants are insect repellants, so planting them near tomatoes helps reduce pest infestation. Calendula, also known as marigolds, usually repels many insects, such as worms that damage tomatoes. Marigolds also provide protection against insects: whiteflies, tomato worms, various beetles, cabbage moths and soil nematodes.

Although this combination may seem bizarre from a landscape design point of view, gardeners also note that tomatoes have a positive effect on rose bushes. Growing tomato next to roses has been observed to protect roses from black spot and other fungal infections. Tomato leaves contain a chemical that acts as an insecticide on certain insects that can attack the rose.

Strong smells of nasturtium and marigold confuse pests looking for their favorite food. In addition, their roots produce a nematode-repellent substance. There is evidence that nasturtiums are effective against whiteflies and cabbage moths, as well as against aphids and some beetles.

Cornflowers, kosmeya, goldenrod, asters and rudbeckia attract insects that provide additional pest control by preying on harmful insects.

What herbs go well with garden tomatoes?

We often use aromatic herbs to add spice to food, but many spices are also good companions for tomatoes. The classic combination of tomato and basil works both on the plate and in the garden. Basil is said to repel mosquitoes, flies, and tomato worms, as well as help attract beneficial insects to your garden.

While there is no scientific evidence for this, gardeners have observed that basil can also improve the taste of tomato fruit and promote more vigorous plant growth. The only way to test this claim is to try planting basil near the tomatoes in your garden. Moreover, basil, as a rule, is shorter than tomatoes and will not shade them from the light. Borage (borage, borage) also provides protection for bushes from tomato worms.

Mint is not only a great tea ingredient and sedative, it can also repel typical garden pests such as ants, mice and fleas. Mint is also effective against cabbage moth infections, and, among other things, increases the overall immunity of tomato bushes and improves the taste of fruits.

Fragrant mint can be planted next to tomatoes or used as a useful mulch for tomato beds. Lemon balm and monarda, which are close relatives of mint, attract pollinators that contribute to the pollination of tomatoes, and also improve the taste and growth of tomatoes.

Other herbs that grow well next to tomatoes are green onions and parsley. Parsley accelerates the growth of tomatoes and attracts predatory insects that feed on tomato worms. However, it should be borne in mind that parsley should not be planted next to mint, because these plants have a very negative effect on each other. Instead, you can plant parsley in the company of tomatoes and roses, since parsley also helps to enhance the aroma of the rose.

See also our article Mixed plantings - which crops should grow together?

Tomato compatible vegetables

Some vegetables are also compatible with tomatoes in the garden. Garlic and onion are among the most powerful insect repellent plants. And members of the Onion family are very good companions for tomatoes, especially effective against aphids, beetles and spider mites (particularly red spider mites).

An onion planted in a ring around a tomato patch protects plants from pests such as mites, slugs and earwigs and, where appropriate, repels marmots. Garlic prevents red spider mites from infesting tomatoes and is also effective against aphids on roses, making these crops suitable for garden trios.

Another popular trio for co-planting is garlic, basil and tomatoes, as garlic heads keep aphids, mites and nematodes away (and roses, by the way, protect against black spot). Broccoli also grows well alongside onions, garlic, and tomatoes, so consider planting them together.

Early carrots can also be planted next to tomatoes as the crop can be harvested before the tomato bushes grow and take up space. Although carrots do not prevent disease or repel insects, they are considered a friendly neighbor for tomatoes. Its deep roots loosen the soil around the tomatoes, so that water and nutrients, as well as air, circulate more easily around the tomato roots.

However, be aware that there is also evidence that proximity to tomatoes may stunt carrot growth, although root vegetables taste good. In addition to early carrots, spinach and leaf lettuce also contribute to the efficient use of space in tomato beds, since this is a crop that is harvested shortly after planting tomato seedlings.

Beans and peas are commonly combined with many crops because legumes enrich the soil with nitrogen. Planting asparagus between tomato plants provides asparagus protection from beetles. At the same time, the harvest from these plants is harvested at different times of the year, and their combination saves space in the garden. Asparagus appears in early spring, while tomatoes are planted in the garden much later.

Incompatible plants with tomatoes

Some plants cause harm to tomatoes when they grow nearby. Potatoes and tomatoes are members of the same nightshade family and are subject to the same diseases and infections, so they should grow as far apart as possible.

Corn is another plant that is not compatible with tomatoes as the worm infects both plants. Most members of the cruciferous family need a lot of nutrition and take a lot of nutrients out of the soil, and tomatoes are nutritionally deficient. Also, white cabbage inhibits the growth of tomatoes in general.

Some plants are simply not designed to coexist in the same place, and combining them can seriously slow down growth or increase the vulnerability of one or both plants to diseases and pests. In particular, fennel, dill, rue, kohlrabi, white cabbage, cauliflower, walnut and apricot are especially negative for tomatoes.

Therefore, do not plant them on the same or neighboring beds with tomatoes. Also break the beds with tomatoes as far as possible from the walnut and apricot, even if they are young seedlings.

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