I've always found the idea of companion planting fascinating. I still can't swear it always works, but I suspect there's a lot more substance to it than its detractors will admit. Gardeners have been fine tuning it for years and there's no substitute for experience.
So while we're shopping for and starting seeds, here's a list I pulled together of companion plants for tomatoes. Some are plants I've tried myself and others I've gleaned from books on the subject. There's still plenty of time to start some seeds.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
I noticed that Peppers are on the list for companions but they are also on the list to not plant with tomatoes. Which is it?
Good catch. I rechecked my lists and one did have peppers down as good companions, but with no further information. Since they are in the same family and can have similar problems, it’s best to separate or rotate them, so I’ve made the correction. Thanks for catching it.
Last year I planted my broccoli next to my tomatoes. My broccoli was beautiful and the heads were large; the tomatoes were a great disappointment. Since then I have read about companion planting and that broccoli and tomatoes are incompatible. I would like to plant both this year. My garden measures 16 feet by 40 feet. Is this large enough for the two plants? How far apart should I plant them?
Fawn, companion planting is far from exact. Obviously the best thing to try would be planting them at opposite sides of the garden. But generally, as long as their roots are not sharing soil, they should be OK. If you can separate them by a couple of rows of other vegetables, so much the better.
Marie,
Perfect! Putting the beds together with tomatoes as the basic “crop” and got some other plants as well. Conserving space, being “ecological” and a quick search for which to put with what brought me here.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Jon. I started looking into it for the same reasons as you.
Quite a few of the references that I have consulted on companion planting recommend against planting beans and peas near your tomatoes and past results in my garden seem to validate that hypothesis. That said, not all lists that I have seen on the subject completely agree with each other and usually are based on trial and error.
Hi Maria!
I have a garden plan which take account of companion plants.
I know that we are not the subject, but I have a question for you.
What organic solutions using the spraying of fruit trees against disease, and when you spraying?
If any item with these tips, you tell me the title.
Thanks very much!
Kim M., do the beans and peas stunt the tomatoes? I wonder if that would apply to any type of legume?
I agree, I think some of the companion planting wisdom can be affected by growing conditions, so that what works in one garden might not work in another. It is interesting to try and put the pieces together though, isn’t it?
Vasi, organic fruit tree sprays is a big topic and I haven’t covered it yet. Here’s a good organic fact sheet from Cooperative Extension that has a schedule for spraying cooper/lime/sulfur, for disease control, as well as some organic controls for insects. I hope it helps you.