Growing a vibrant, productive tomato garden is about more than just the tomatoes themselves. The right companion plants can protect your prized tomato plants from pests, improve soil health, and enhance flavor. Savvy gardeners know that strategic planting combinations can make all the difference between mediocre harvests and garden abundance.
Ready to transform your tomato patch into a thriving ecosystem? These 17 companion plants work alongside your tomatoes to create a healthier garden that produces more flavorful fruit with fewer chemicals and less maintenance.
1. Basil
Basil and tomatoes are not only a perfect pair in Italian cuisine but also garden best friends. This aromatic herb repels troublesome insects like flies, mosquitoes, and hornworms that typically plague tomato plants. Its strong scent masks the tomato plant smell that attracts these pests.
Many gardeners report that growing basil near tomatoes improves their flavor. Plant basil around the perimeter of your tomato patch or intersperse it between plants. Both plants enjoy similar growing conditions, warm temperatures, and consistent moisture, making them natural companions.
2. Marigolds
Marigolds are the unsung heroes of the tomato garden, acting as natural pest control stations. These bright flowers release a substance from their roots that repels nematodes, microscopic worms that attack tomato roots and stunt plant growth. The strong scent also deters various above-ground pests.
Plant marigolds as a border around your tomato patch or scattered throughout the garden. French marigold varieties offer the best protection against nematodes. And they're not just functional – these cheerful orange and yellow blooms add beauty to your vegetable garden while working hard to protect your precious tomatoes.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums serve as a sacrificial "trap crop" in your tomato garden. These colorful flowers attract aphids and other pests that would otherwise attack your tomatoes. Nasturtiums keep your tomato plants relatively pest-free by drawing these unwanted visitors to themselves.
These easy-growing flowers feature bright orange, yellow, and red blooms that add visual interest to your garden. Plant them around the perimeter of your tomato patch. As a bonus, nasturtium flowers and leaves are edible with a peppery flavor similar to watercress – perfect for adding to summer salads alongside your homegrown tomatoes.
4. Garlic
Garlic works like a natural insect repellent when planted near tomatoes. The strong sulfur compounds it releases help deter spider mites, aphids, and other common tomato pests. These compounds can even help prevent fungal diseases that typically affect tomato plants.
For maximum benefit, plant garlic cloves in the fall for a spring harvest or early spring for a summer harvest. Place them between tomato plants or as a protective border around your tomato patch. Garlic's vertical growth makes it an efficient use of space without competing heavily with your tomatoes for nutrients.
5. Carrots
Carrots and tomatoes form a mutually beneficial relationship in the garden. Tomatoes release a substance called solanine that repels carrot flies, while carrots help loosen the soil around tomato roots, improving drainage and aeration. This partnership leads to healthier plants and better harvests for both vegetables.
Plant carrot seeds between tomato plants, allowing the carrots to grow in the partial shade of the tomato foliage. The timing works well, too; you can harvest your carrots when your tomatoes produce fruit. This companion planting makes efficient use of garden space and resources.
6. Borage
Borage is a powerhouse companion for tomatoes, attracting beneficial pollinators while deterring harmful tomato hornworms. This herb contains trace minerals that enrich the soil when its leaves decompose, potentially improving the flavor of your tomatoes. The blue, star-shaped flowers add beauty to your garden throughout the growing season.
Plant borage near the edges of your tomato patch where its somewhat sprawling growth won't interfere with tomato plants. As an added bonus, borage is self-seeding, returning year after year with minimal effort. The cucumber-flavored leaves and flowers are also edible, making this companion plant a triple threat, protective, beautiful, and useful in the kitchen.
7. Asparagus
Asparagus and tomatoes form a long-term companionship in the garden. These perennial vegetables share compatible growing habits and actually help protect each other. Tomatoes release solanine, which repels the asparagus beetle, while asparagus helps deter nematodes that can damage tomato roots.
Plant your tomatoes near your established asparagus bed, but not directly in it. The growing seasons complement each other perfectly; asparagus is produced in spring, while tomatoes take center stage in summer. This succession planting maximizes your garden's productivity throughout the growing season.
8. Chives
Chives provide excellent pest protection for tomato plants while occupying minimal garden space. Their strong onion scent repels aphids and other insects that commonly attack tomato plants. As a member of the allium family, chives also help deter soil-borne diseases that can affect tomatoes.
Plant chives around the perimeter of your tomato patch or between plants. Their compact growth habit means they won't compete with tomatoes for space or nutrients. The pretty purple flowers attract beneficial pollinators, and you can harvest the flavorful leaves throughout the season to add to your culinary creations alongside your fresh tomatoes.
9. Parsley
Parsley attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests, creating a natural defense system in your garden. This herb is a habitat for predatory wasps and hoverflies that feed on aphids, caterpillars, and other unwanted visitors. The result is healthier tomato plants with less need for intervention.
Plant parsley between tomato plants or as a border around your tomato patch. Its compact growth doesn't compete with tomatoes, and the bright green foliage adds visual interest to your garden. As a bonus, you'll have fresh parsley handy for garnishing your tomato-based dishes straight from the garden.
10. Celery
Celery makes an excellent companion for tomatoes due to its different nutritional needs and growth habits. While tomatoes are heavy feeders, celery requires different nutrients, reducing competition in the soil. The crisp vegetable also attracts beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests.
Plant celery near your tomatoes, but provide enough space for both to mature properly. Both plants enjoy consistent moisture, making watering routines compatible. Celery's strong scent may also help mask the smell of tomato plants, potentially confusing pests that find tomatoes by smell.
11. Mint
Mint's powerful aroma is a natural repellent for many common tomato pests, including aphids, flea beetles, and even rodents. The strong scent masks the smell of tomato plants, making them harder for pests to locate. Beneficial insects attracted to mint, like predatory wasps, will help control caterpillars and other tomato pests.
Due to mint's aggressive spreading habit, it's best planted in containers near your tomato patch rather than directly in the garden. This prevents the mint from taking over while still providing pest protection benefits. As a bonus, fresh mint will be available for summer drinks and garnishes to enjoy alongside your tomato harvest.
12. Bee Balm
Bee balm attracts crucial pollinators to your tomato garden with its bright flowers and aromatic foliage. While tomatoes are self-pollinating, the increased bee activity improves overall pollination rates, potentially leading to larger harvests. The distinctive scent also helps mask the smell of tomato plants from certain pests.
Plant bee balm near the perimeter of your tomato patch where its sometimes sprawling growth won't interfere with tomato plants. The beautiful red, pink, or purple flowers add visual interest to your vegetable garden. As a member of the mint family, bee balm shares some of mint's pest-repelling properties without the aggressive spreading habit.
13. Calendula
Calendula flowers are a magnet for beneficial insects while repelling harmful nematodes in the soil. These bright orange and yellow blooms attract pollinators and predatory insects that feed on common tomato pests. The roots release compounds that deter soil nematodes, protecting tomato roots from damage.
Plant calendula throughout your tomato patch or as a colorful border. These easy-growing flowers bloom continuously throughout the season, providing ongoing pest protection and beauty. The edible petals can be harvested along with your tomatoes to add color and a mild, peppery flavor to summer salads.
14. Sage
Sage repels various tomato pests, including carrot flies, cabbage moths, and some beetles. This aromatic herb contains natural compounds that mask the scent of tomato plants, making them harder for pests to locate. The pretty purple-blue flowers also attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Plant sage near the edges of your tomato patch where its woody growth won't interfere with tomato plants. This drought-tolerant herb requires less water than tomatoes, so position it where your tomato irrigation schedule won't overwater it. As a perennial in many regions, sage provides years of protection with minimal maintenance.
15. Peppers
Peppers make excellent tomato companions as they share similar growing requirements without competing for the same nutrients. Both plants thrive in full sun and warm soil, simplifying garden maintenance. Their similar watering and fertilizing needs mean you can care for both crops simultaneously.
Plant peppers and tomatoes in alternating rows or clusters to maximize space while still allowing good airflow. This planting strategy helps prevent the spread of diseases while creating a visually interesting garden layout. The varied heights, peppers typically being shorter than indeterminate tomatoes, create a layered garden that efficiently uses vertical space.
16. Lettuce
Lettuce makes an ideal companion for tomatoes by providing natural ground cover that helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. The shallow roots of lettuce don't compete with the deeper root system of tomatoes. This low-growing crop thrives in the partial shade created by tomato plants, extending your lettuce harvest into warmer weather.
Plant lettuce between tomato plants, especially on the north side, where they'll receive afternoon shade. This interplanting maximizes garden space and creates a living mulch effect. When tomatoes reach full size, you'll have harvested most of your lettuce, making this a perfectly timed companion planting strategy.
17. Spinach
Spinach is an excellent living mulch around tomato plants, helping retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Like lettuce, spinach has shallow roots that don't compete with tomatoes for nutrients or water. The leafy green thrives in the partial shade provided by developing tomato plants.
Plant spinach early in the season around young tomato transplants. By the time summer heat arrives and tomatoes reach full size, you'll have harvested your spinach crop. This succession planting efficiently uses garden space and extends your harvest season, providing fresh greens while you wait for tomatoes to ripen.
Creating Your Perfect Tomato Garden Ecosystem
The best tomato gardens mimic natural ecosystems with diverse plantings that support each other. By incorporating several companion plants from this list, you'll create a balanced environment that naturally deters pests, attracts beneficial insects, and maximizes space. Start with two or three companions this season and observe your tomato health and production differences.
Remember that gardening is part science, part art. Your specific growing conditions may favor certain companions over others. Take notes on what works best in your garden and adjust next season. The reward will be healthier plants, more abundant harvests, and tomatoes bursting with flavor, all with less work and fewer chemical interventions.
Want fresh herbs at your fingertips without leaving home? Learn How to Grow a Mini Herb Garden on Your Windowsill This Spring (10 Steps)