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How to Use Tomatoes in Companion Planting

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When it comes to the organic garden, use tomato plants as a companion plant. Not only can you grow them for your own benefit, but also to benefit other vegetables. They play a diverse role in companion planting. For the organic gardener, companion planting is a must and tomatoes will fit comfortably in with the garden scheme. Be sure to choose a site where they will receive full sun and the soil has a pH level ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. They require well-draining soil, rich with organic matter.

Things You Will Need

Tomato Cages Tomatoes

Garden gloves

Garden Spade

Garden hose

Plant tomatoes with asparagus, celery, lettuce, spinach and chard to provide shade needed to prevent these leafy vegetable plants from burning and to prolong their growing season.

Tomato plants also make a good companion plant for green peppers by providing shade for the tender peppers and raising surrounding humidity levels.All plants go through a process called transpiration. During this process, water vapor is released through all above ground parts of the plant. Evaporation of this vapor is slowed if leaves are in close proximity because the vapor is trapped.

Grow peas with tomatoes to provide the extra nitrogen this vegetable needs, they are heavy feeders.

Grow garlic nearby to fend off fungus gnats that are attracted to ripening produce in the organic garden. Garlic also produces a compound that acts as a fungicide.

Carrots and tomatoes make good companions until the carrots start to mature, at this point, tomatoes will stunt the carrots' growth. Until that point, both vegetable plants confuse pests and help scare them off.

Place tomatoes amongst herbs such as basil, oregano and mints to help with general pest deterrence.

Plant yarrow and anise as companions to tomato plants. Both of these will actually increase the overall health and growth of a variety of garden plants. Horehound has also been known to "jump start" fruiting in berries, vegetables and fruit trees.

Place tomatoes in amongst flowers such as geranium, marigold, chrysanthemum and nasturtium to deter many different pests. They repel aphids, white flies and hornworms.

Zinnias and sunflowers will also decrease the white fly problem because they attract hummingbirds. Hummingbirds feed off of white flies and attract pollinating insects.

Plant tomatoes away from cucumbers, potatoes, beans and members of the brassica family because they will attract harmful pests that are common to all of them.

Keep dill well away from them as dill attracts hornworms. They should also not be anywhere near Black Walnut trees.

Not only do tomatoes play an interesting role in the organic garden through companion planting, they look interesting amongst flowerbeds. Their appearance is in contrast to plants with smooth, dark leaves. Even the eye can benefit from a companion planting scheme.