What Are the Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes in a Garden? - Plant Care Guide

Growing tomatoes is a rewarding experience for any gardener, but knowing how to maximize their growth and health through companion planting can elevate your garden’s success. Companion planting involves placing certain plants next to each other to mutually benefit from their growth, enhancing flavor, protecting against pests, and boosting overall crop yields. Tomatoes are especially suited to this practice because they thrive when grown with the right companions. In this guide, we’ll explore the best companion plants for tomatoes and how they can create a healthier and more productive garden.

1. Benefits of Companion Planting for Tomatoes

Before diving into the best companion plants for tomatoes, it's important to understand the benefits of companion planting:

• Pest control: Some plants repel insects that can harm your tomato plants, while others attract beneficial insects that prey on pests.
• Soil health: Certain plants improve the soil quality by fixing nitrogen or providing essential nutrients, which helps tomatoes thrive.
• Improved growth: The right combination of plants can improve the flavor, size, and overall yield of your tomato plants.
• Weed suppression: Companion plants can act as a natural ground cover, reducing the growth of weeds that compete for nutrients.

By choosing the best companion plants, you can ensure your tomatoes grow strong and healthy throughout the season.

2. Basil: The Perfect Tomato Companion

One of the best-known companions for tomatoes is basil. This fragrant herb not only enhances the flavor of tomatoes when grown nearby but also offers excellent pest control. Basil repels insects like aphids, mosquitoes, and tomato hornworms, which are notorious for damaging tomato plants.

How to Plant Basil with Tomatoes

Plant basil alongside tomatoes, spacing them about 12 inches apart. Basil prefers similar growing conditions, including full sun and well-drained soil. The pairing of tomatoes and basil can lead to more flavorful tomatoes while keeping pests at bay.

Consider planting basil seeds or using starter plants to complement your tomato garden.

3. Marigolds: Natural Pest Deterrents

Marigolds are a favorite in many gardens, particularly when grown with tomatoes. These bright flowers contain a substance called alpha-terthienyl, which has been shown to repel root-knot nematodes, tiny pests that attack the roots of tomato plants. Marigolds also deter aphids, whiteflies, and other common garden pests.

How to Use Marigolds with Tomatoes

Plant marigolds around the perimeter of your tomato bed or intersperse them between your tomato plants. They grow well in full sun and are relatively low-maintenance, making them ideal companions for tomatoes.

Adding marigold seeds to your garden can enhance the health of your tomatoes while providing vibrant color.

4. Garlic and Onions: Repel Pests and Improve Flavor

Both garlic and onions are excellent companions for tomatoes because they help deter several pests, including aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles. In addition to pest control, growing garlic and onions near tomatoes is believed to enhance the flavor of the fruits.

How to Plant Garlic and Onions with Tomatoes

Garlic and onions can be planted between your tomato plants or around the edges of your garden. They require similar growing conditions—full sun and well-drained soil. Be sure to leave enough space between plants to allow air circulation and reduce the risk of fungal infections.

Planting garlic bulbs or onion sets alongside your tomatoes will not only help control pests but also give your garden an extra boost in flavor.

5. Carrots: Root Companions

Carrots are another beneficial companion for tomatoes, as they occupy different root zones and don’t compete with tomato plants for nutrients. Carrots also help aerate the soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots of your tomato plants more effectively.

How to Grow Carrots with Tomatoes

Plant carrots at the base of your tomato plants. The shade from the tomato foliage can protect carrots from intense heat, making them grow more effectively in hot summer conditions. Keep in mind that carrots need loose, well-drained soil to thrive.

To start your tomato-carrot companion planting, use carrot seeds and ensure they have the right growing environment alongside your tomatoes.

6. Lettuce: A Ground Cover for Tomatoes

Lettuce is a great companion plant for tomatoes because it acts as a natural ground cover. This low-growing plant helps keep the soil cool and moist, which benefits the root systems of your tomato plants. Lettuce also prevents weeds from taking over, reducing competition for nutrients.

How to Plant Lettuce with Tomatoes

Lettuce thrives in the partial shade provided by tall tomato plants, so you can plant lettuce between your tomato rows. This companion planting helps utilize space efficiently and benefits both plants by improving moisture retention in the soil.

To include this helpful companion in your garden, try planting lettuce seeds near your tomatoes.

7. Borage: Attract Pollinators and Repel Pests

Borage is an herb that brings multiple benefits to a tomato garden. Its flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, helping to boost the fruiting of your tomato plants. Additionally, borage repels pests like tomato hornworms and cabbage worms, which can damage your crops.

How to Use Borage in a Tomato Garden

Plant borage near your tomatoes, either as an individual plant or in small clusters. Borage is easy to grow and does well in most garden conditions. It also has edible flowers and leaves, which you can harvest throughout the season.

Planting borage seeds around your tomato plants will attract beneficial insects and deter harmful pests.

8. Nasturtiums: Pest Traps for Tomatoes

Nasturtiums are beautiful flowering plants that serve as "trap crops" for tomatoes. This means that pests like aphids and whiteflies are drawn to nasturtiums rather than your tomato plants. By planting nasturtiums nearby, you can protect your tomatoes from infestations while enjoying the bright, edible flowers they produce.

How to Grow Nasturtiums with Tomatoes

Plant nasturtiums near the base of your tomato plants or around the garden perimeter. They grow quickly and require little maintenance, making them a useful companion plant.

To add pest protection and vibrant color to your garden, consider planting nasturtium seeds alongside your tomatoes.

9. Parsley: A Flavorful Companion

Parsley is another herb that works well with tomatoes. Not only does it help improve the flavor of tomatoes, but parsley also attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies, which prey on pests that can harm your tomato plants.

How to Plant Parsley with Tomatoes

Plant parsley around the base of your tomato plants or in nearby garden beds. It grows well in both full sun and partial shade, making it adaptable to most tomato gardens.

To enhance the flavor of your tomatoes while attracting beneficial insects, plant parsley seeds near your tomato plants.

10. Asparagus: A Perennial Pairing

Asparagus and tomatoes make excellent companions due to the unique timing of their growth cycles. Asparagus is a perennial plant that grows in early spring, long before tomato plants are established. In return, tomatoes help repel the asparagus beetle, a common pest that can damage asparagus plants.

How to Grow Asparagus with Tomatoes

If you already have an established asparagus bed, plant tomatoes nearby to take advantage of this symbiotic relationship. Keep in mind that asparagus needs a dedicated growing space since it is a perennial, so plan your garden layout accordingly.

For long-term garden planning, consider planting asparagus crowns near your tomatoes.

11. Spinach: Shade-Loving Companion for Tomatoes

Spinach is an excellent companion plant for tomatoes because it thrives in the shade created by tall tomato plants. Spinach grows quickly and can be harvested throughout the season, making it a valuable addition to your garden. Additionally, spinach helps retain soil moisture, which benefits tomato plants during dry periods.

How to Plant Spinach with Tomatoes

Plant spinach around the base of your tomato plants in early spring or fall, when the temperatures are cooler. The shade from tomatoes will keep the spinach leaves tender and protect them from excessive heat.

To keep your garden productive and weed-free, plant spinach seeds near your tomatoes.

12. Peppers: Perfect Partners

Peppers are part of the same plant family as tomatoes (Solanaceae), and they make excellent companions because they share similar growing requirements. Both plants thrive in full sun and warm temperatures, and they don’t compete for nutrients when grown together. Additionally, planting tomatoes and peppers near each other can help maximize your garden space.

How to Plant Peppers with Tomatoes

Peppers can be planted alongside tomatoes in a well-drained, sunny spot. Be sure to space the plants properly to allow good air circulation, which helps prevent diseases like blight and mildew from spreading.

For a bountiful garden, try planting pepper seeds alongside your tomatoes.

13. Beans: Nitrogen Fixers

Beans are known as "nitrogen fixers," meaning they take nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form that plants can use. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and benefit from the nitrogen that beans add to the soil. This makes beans one of the best companion plants for tomatoes, as they enhance soil fertility and improve growth.

How to Plant Beans with Tomatoes

Plant beans near your tomato plants, either in the ground or in containers. You can grow bush beans alongside tomatoes or train pole beans to climb trellises near your tomato beds. This partnership works well as the beans enrich the soil and support the tomatoes' growth.

To improve the health of your tomato plants, try growing bean seeds as a companion crop.

14. Cilantro: A Pest Repellent

Cilantro is an herb that offers multiple benefits to tomato plants. It attracts beneficial insects such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on harmful pests like aphids and spider mites. Additionally, cilantro helps improve the flavor of tomatoes when grown nearby.

How to Use Cilantro with Tomatoes

Plant cilantro near your tomatoes in early spring or fall when the temperatures are cooler. The herb grows well in partial shade, making it a great companion for taller plants like tomatoes.

Planting cilantro seeds alongside your tomatoes will boost pest control while adding fresh herbs to your garden.