Tomato BFFs: The Best Companion Plants for Your Garden
Your tomatoes don’t want to grow alone. They actually do better with the right neighbors.
It’s called companion planting, and it’s one of those old-school gardening tricks that actually works. Plant the right things next to your tomatoes, and you’ll get better harvests, fewer pests, and healthier plants overall.
Why Companion Planting Works
Plants aren’t just sitting there looking pretty. They’re releasing chemicals, attracting insects, and affecting the soil around them. Some plants help each other out. Others? They’re basically frenemies that make life harder for their neighbors.
At Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center, we get questions about tomato companion plants all the time. Folks want to know what to put in those raised beds alongside their tomatoes. The answer makes a real difference.
If you’re new to the concept, our beginner’s guide to companion planting covers the basics. But let’s talk specifics for tomatoes.
The Short Version
Plant these near tomatoes: Basil, carrots, parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, garlic, onions
Keep these away: Fennel, cabbage family, corn, walnuts
Best Tomato Companion Plants
These are the plants your tomatoes actually want as neighbors. Each one brings something useful to the relationship.
Basil
The classic pairing. Basil repels aphids, spider mites, and tomato hornworms. Some gardeners swear it makes tomatoes taste better too. Plus, you’ll have fresh basil right there when you pick your tomatoes for caprese salad. Win-win.
Marigolds
Not just pretty faces. Marigolds release a chemical that repels nematodes (tiny soil worms that attack tomato roots). They also attract beneficial insects and confuse pests with their strong scent. Plant them around the border of your tomato bed.
Carrots
Carrots loosen the soil with their roots, which helps tomato roots spread and access water. They grow underground while tomatoes grow up, so they don’t compete for space. Just don’t plant them too close – give each plant room to breathe.
Garlic & Onions
The allium family (garlic, onions, chives) repels aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Their strong smell masks the scent of tomatoes, making it harder for pests to find your plants. Tuck a few garlic cloves between tomato plants in spring.
Parsley
Parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that eat aphids. It also attracts the parasitic wasps that prey on tomato hornworms. Let some parsley flower and the good bugs will come running. And it’s other herb you’ll use in the kitchen.
Nasturtiums
These bright flowers act as “trap crops.” Aphids love nasturtiums even more than tomatoes, so they’ll attack the flowers instead of your veggies. Sacrifice the nasturtiums, save your tomatoes. That’s smart gardening!
What NOT to Plant Near Tomatoes
Some plants are bad news for tomatoes. Keep these away from your tomato patch:
- Fennel – Releases chemicals that inhibit tomato growth. If you have to plant it, keep it on the opposite side of the garden.
- Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower – The brassica family competes heavily for the same nutrients tomatoes need.
- Corn – Attracts tomato fruitworm (same pest, different name). Growing them together is asking for trouble.
- Walnut trees – Produce juglone, a chemical that’s toxic to tomatoes. Don’t plant tomatoes anywhere near walnut trees or their roots.
- Potatoes – Same family as tomatoes, which means same diseases. Blight can spread fast between them.
Putting It All Together
Here’s what a well-planned tomato bed might look like: Tomatoes in the center with basil planted between them. Marigolds around the border. A few garlic cloves tucked in here and there. Maybe some carrots on one end and parsley on the other. You don’t need to go crazy with it. Even adding just basil and marigolds to your tomato garden makes a noticeable difference. Start simple and experiment from there.
For more on growing tomato plants successfully, check out our complete guide. And once those tomatoes start rolling in, you’ll need our best fresh tomato recipes to use them all up.
Get Everything You Need at Goebbert’s
We carry tomato transplants, basil, marigolds, and all the tomato companion plants you need at Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center in Barrington. Our vegetable plant selection is best from late April through June – come early for the best variety choices.
Whether you’re in Barrington, South Barrington, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Algonquin, or anywhere in the Chicagoland area, stop by and let us help you plan a tomato garden that practically takes care of itself. Good companions make all the difference.
Visit Our Garden Center
Stop by Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center for all your spring planting needs.
Our knowledgeable staff is ready to help you find the perfect plants, tools, and supplies for your garden.