Give your tomato plants a boost by pairing them with these tried-and-true plant partners.
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Companion planting is the centuries-old practice of pairing plants in the garden that benefit one another.
Our gardens function as interconnected communities, with different plants providing unique services.
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Some plants attract beneficial insects, others ward off pests, while some enhance soil health.
They certainly stand to benefit from tomato companion plants that promote healthier plants and increased yields.
Identify plants that can be used as trap crops or deterrents to help you limit outbreaks.
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Plant plenty of nectar-rich flowers in and near your vegetables to enhance beneficial insect populations including pollinators.
Finally, growing cover crops can help you build soil while managing weeds and other pests.
The tomato companion plants listed here have been proven through scientific testing.
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They are organized here based on the services they provide tomatoes and other neighboring plants.
They are used to manage pests that are regular and destructive in most years.
Note that planting times listed below are based specifically on the plants' use as trap crops.
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Radish
Radish plants are commonly planted around young tomato plants to trap flea beetles.
These tiny black beetles chew holes in leaves and their larvae feed on roots.
Flea beetles are particularly damaging to seedlings and can stunt young plants.
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From a pest management standpoint, they make an excellent trap crop for Southern green stink bugs.
Other deterrents act by repelling insects and disease organisms.
Sow seeds in autumn for winter cover.
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Plants grow rapidly in spring, smothering weeds and feeding the soil.
Plant tomatoes through this residue, which also serves as mulch.
Basil
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Basil is another strong-scented plant.
For effective companion planting, interplant basil between tomato plants.
Basil is also known to deter aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies and reduce egg-laying by armyworms.
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Attract these beneficial insects by planting nectar-rich flowers in and around the garden.
These predators feed on aphids, whiteflies, insect eggs, and other pests.
The blooms also attract the parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs on tomato hornworms.
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If that werent enough, dill serves as a host plant to larvae of the gorgeous black swallowtail butterfly.
These beneficial insects feed on aphids, insect eggs, and other garden pests.
It has demonstrated positive impacts in aphid management.
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Oregano makes a great groundcover or edger for garden beds.
Some serve as groundcovers or living mulches to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
Others are used as winter cover crops to protect garden beds from erosion.
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Many of these plants provide additionalbenefits to garden communities.
White clover provides a variety of soil-enhancing services.
They help to stabilize soilsand are very effective at suppressing weeds.
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White clover plants also produce a flush of blooms that attract beneficial insects, including native bee species.
Plants put on a flush of growth in early spring and are cut back before they set seed.
Winter rye residues also release allelopathic chemicals into the soil that restrict the germination and growth of seeds.
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These chemicals do not harm transplanted tomato seedlings (or those of other vegetable transplants), only seeds.
For the best results, leave winter rye residues on top of the soil surface.
Grow as a winter cover crop, mowing or cutting plants in spring when they come into bloom.
Crimson clover can also be grown as a living mulch around tomato plants.
As a living mulch, cut crimson clover back several times per season before the flowers set seed.
Residues can be left on the soil surface.
