List of Top Tomato Companion Plants

According to tomato cultivators, certain companion plants can improve the growth of tomatoes by repelling insect pests and tomato plant diseases.

Several tomato companion plants offer benefits for tomatoes by efficiently using available space, improving the quality of soil, attracting beneficial insects that prey on insect pests, providing disease control, acting as a sustainable weed control option, and even providing a second edible crop.

Top Tomato Companion Plants

1. Asparagus- Asparagus and tomatoes are the dynamic duos of the garden. Tomatoes repel obnoxious asparagus beetles, while asparagus keeps away nematodes in the soil, which can harm tomatoes.
2. Basil- Basil is a delicious fragrant herb that repels flies and aphids while improving the flavour of tomatoes through the release of certain aromatic compounds. Basil is low on maintenance and repels hornworms, a common tomato pest. However, the basil plant can become very bushy and tall, thereby, reducing airflow to the tomato plant and increasing its risk of diseases.
3. Marigolds- The bright colours and strong scent of marigolds make them an excellent deterrent against insects like tomato hornworms and aphids. Planting a row of marigolds around your tomato crop can ensure that the bugs feed on the marigold and not on your fruit.
4. Onion, garlic, and other alliums- Onion, garlic, and other alliums have an overwhelming scent that can mask the scent of tomatoes from insects.
5. Sunflowers- Sunflowers make great companion plants because they attract bumblebees and birds to the garden area. Sunflowers attract native bees to the garden which helps to pollinate the self-fertile tomato flowers in the area. In late summer, sunflowers attract birds that might eat some of the pest insects affecting tomatoes late in the season.

1. Chives- Chives are an edible, perennial herb that repels aphids, nematodes, and spider mites. They also attract pollinators including butterflies, bees, and beneficial wasps.
2. Radishes- Radishes trap beetles that defoliate young tomato plants. Radishes grow in shallow soil and don’t interfere with tomato roots, so place them right at the base of the tomato plant.
3. Lettuce- Plant lettuce near tomato plants to create a ground cover that will help keep the soil moist and cut down on weeds. In return, the shade from tomato plants can help provide some cover for the lettuce and stop it from bolting.
4. Parsley- Basil is another aromatic herb that is compatible with tomatoes. Parsley repels harmful beetles and is low-growing and low-maintenance.
5. Lavender- The sweet-smelling flowers of lavender plants repel mosquitoes and other flying pests while also keeping aphids away from nearby crops such as strawberries. They attract bees that help pollinate your crops, which can lead to better yields and higher-quality produce.

Companion Plants to Avoid Planting with Tomatoes

1. Walnuts- Walnut trees release chemicals in the soil that stunt the growth of surrounding plants. Therefore, walnuts can negatively affect your problem.
2. Sweet corn- Sweet corn attracts corn earworm, a pest that is similar to the tomato fruitworm. Since both of these plants are susceptible to the same pests it is advised not to grow them together.

1. Fennel and dill- Mature fennel and dill plants can stunt tomato plant growth. Both of these herbs attract swallowtail butterflies which lay their eggs on these plants. The caterpillars that hatch out of these eggs eat nearby tomatoes.
2. Cauliflower- Broccoli and cauliflower will compete for nutrients with tomatoes, as they are both heavy feeders.