11 Best (and 5 Worst) Tomato Companion Plants To Grow

Tomato plants are popularly grown in most vegetable gardens, whether indoors or outdoors. However, these plants require some tomato companion plants to encourage more fruiting by improving nutrient intake, aiding in pollination, and even helping in pest control.

Companion plants for tomato plants can also keep many plant diseases at bay. This is one of the main purposes of tomato plants. Even though tomato plant care is easy and these plants can be grown in the garden or as potted plants, growing tomato companion plants can prevent any plant problems and result in a healthy yield.

So, without further ado, let’s explore some companion plants for tomatoes and how they can help in healthier growth.

What Are Companion Plants?

In simple terms, companion plants are two different plants that form a symbiotic relationship, resulting in mutual benefits. Some companion plants may have a single benefit to give, while some can provide multiple benefits, such as attracting pollinators, providing pest and disease resistance, and more.

You can grow one companion plant for tomato plants or try polyculture gardening. In this form of gardening, the tomato plants are spread across the garden with companion plants between them. So, if one tomato plant gets affected by pests or diseases, others will stay safe.

Best Tomato Companion Plants

1. Basil

Basil is a popular herb and a great tomato companion plant. These companion plants for tomatoes are said to repel pests, improve taste, and encourage root development. However, there is no scientific evidence that basil can improve the taste of tomatoes; it does, however, help control many pests.

The strong fragrance of basil repels insects and makes it difficult for them to find tomato plants to lay eggs. Moreover, these herbal plants are easy to grow and thrive in similar conditions to the tomato plant.

2. Asparagus

Asparagus and tomato plants form a highly beneficial symbiotic relationship. Asparagus produces natural fungicides that help in preventing plant diseases such as early blight and botrytis that are common in tomato plants. Moreover, these tomato companion plants also release a toxic compound that repels root-knot nematodes and further prevents problems such as wilting, stunting, and chlorosis.

In return, tomato plants produce and release solanine, a chemical that repels the asparagus beetle.

3. Garlic

A great pest-repelling companion plant for tomato plants, Garlic can also prevent many soil-borne diseases. The strong scent of garlic repels pests such as moths, spider mites, and more. Moreover, many gardeners believe that applying garlic spray to tomato plants can control and prevent late blight.

The antibacterial and antifungal properties of garlic also prevent pests like root maggots and cabbage loopers.

4. Marigolds

Marigolds have many benefits when grown as tomato companion plants. These flowering plants prevent root-knot nematodes; however, many studies show that they only work when grown before tomato plants as a cover crop.

These companion plants for tomato also attract beneficial insects, such as the ladybug, that feed on harmful pests such as aphids. Moreover, many gardeners believe that the scent of marigolds can repel moths.

5. Parsley

Parsley is a great pest protector for tomato plants. These tomato companion plants attract ladybugs and hoverflies that eat aphids. However, you’ll need to let these plants flower first. Moreover, also keep in mind that some varieties of parsley don’t mix well with so research well before growing these companion plants for tomato.

Parsley is also a flavourful edible herb that is used in a variety of dishes, along with tomatoes.

6. Lavender

These fragrant plants help in promoting pollination. Lavender has a sweet scent that keeps many flying pests away and also repels mosquitoes. Moreover, these tomato companion plants attract bees that help in increasing pollination.

The sweet smell of Lavender is also appealing to humans, making it a great plant for gardens. However, lavender has different growing requirements from tomatoes, so grow them in separate containers.

7. Sunflowers

These sun-loving plants also help in increasing pollination as companion plants for tomatoes. Sunflowers attract pollinators such as bees, which can be beneficial for tomatoes and other vegetables in your garden.

Moreover, some varieties of sunflowers also attract small birds that help in pollination and eat pests in the garden.

8. Thyme

Another herbal plant, thyme are low-growing plant that can be great for potted tomato plants as it acts as a living mulch. Moreover, these tomato companion plants also get rid of many pests such as aphids, ants, armyworms, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, and more.

The blooms of thyme also attract various pollinators, which increase pollination and feed on plant pests. Furthermore, you can add these flavourful herbs to a variety of dishes.

9. Radishes

These tomato companion plants help repel one of the most harmful insects for tomatoes – flea beetles. However, in doing so, these crops sacrifice themselves as flea beetles prefer them over tomatoes and would attack them.

Radishes can be grown in the same pot as tomatoes, as they grow in shallow soil and don’t interfere with the roots of your tomato plant.

10. Carrots

These companion plants for tomatoes are great for gardens. The long roots of carrots break the soil and improve air circulation, and also allow more water to reach the roots of tomato plants.

In return, tomato plants provide shade to carrots, as they are cool-season crops. Moreover, the chemical compound (solanine) repels pests that affect carrots.

11. Nasturtiums

If you are looking for beautiful flowering companion plants for tomatoes, Nasturtiums can be the right choice for you. These plants act as a trap crop for various pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and more. Nasturtiums have edible leaves and flowers.

Moreover, these tomato companion plants also reduce the spread of many fungal diseases.

Plants To Avoid 

Many plants can harm the growth of your tomato plants and should be avoided growing near them –

• Nightshades: These are plant that belongs to the Solanaceae family, same as the tomato plants; therefore, they are susceptible to similar diseases and pest problems. Some other plants that belong to this family are eggplant, pepper, potatoes, and more.
• Cucumber: Cucumber plants are susceptible to mosaic virus and phytophthora blight, which can spread to tomatoes.
• Sweet Corn: Is susceptible to the same pest infestation as tomato – corn earworms, also called tomato fruitworms.
• Strawberries: These fruiting plants are susceptible to verticillium wilt, which can spread to tomato plants.
• Cole Crops: Plants belonging to the Brassica family halt the growth of the tomato plant. These include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and unusual edible plants such as kohlrabi.

Benefits Of Growing Companion Plants For Tomato

Growing certain plants together can help them gain mutual benefits and result in better growth for your main crop. Here are some benefits of tomato companion plants –

• These plants prevent severe diseases and repel many pests.
• Tomato companion plants also attract many pollinators that take care of pests and increase pollination.
• Companion plants also create a better environment for all the plants in your garden.
• These plants can also be used in many dishes along with tomatoes.
• Companion plants for tomatoes also increase fruit production.

Conclusion

Tomato companion plants can aid you in growing tasty and healthy tomato fruits. These plants take care of many major problems that are associated with growing tomatoes, such as pests and diseases. Moreover, growing these plants requires more or less the same conditions as tomato plants. So, for better tomato plant production and health, you should consider growing companion plants along with them.