Garden plants to grow near tomatoes to boost crop flavour and ‘repel pests’
Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops to grow at home, and to boost yield further, gardeners should try companion planting.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said: “Companion planting is a method of different growing plants adjacent to one another for the benefit of one or both of the companions.
“Some plants are thought to confuse or act as a decoy to potential pests, while a few provide food for the pest’s natural predators.”
When growing tomatoes, it is important to plant nearby to encourage a healthier crop.
According to Matt Hagens at Obsessed Lawn, tomatoes love companions, so it is best to parent them up with plants like basil, nasturtiums or marigolds.
These friendly neighbours not only help to “repel pests”, but they can also help to “enhance” the flavour of your tomatoes.
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Nasturtium can help to deter whiteflies as well as aphids, common problems when it comes to growing tomatoes in the summer.
Peppers also make great companions, as do spinach, lettuce and carrots which will help tomatoes thrive all summer long.
According to GardeningKnowHow, parsley and mint are other herbs which are good companions for tomatoes and can deter animals such as rats and cats due to their strong scent.
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The RHS added: “Companions can give added health to their neighbours. Parsley gives increased vigour to tomatoes and asparagus, horseradish planted near potatoes makes them stronger and more disease resistant.”
Matt continued: “Similarly avoid planting them too close to potatoes or fennel. Trust me, it’s like a bad neighbour feud that never ends well.”
Growing fennel anywhere near tomatoes can stop the growth of the fruit as well as other plants.
If you don’t opt for companion planting when it comes to tomatoes, make sure to check them regularly for disease.
Common signs of disease include black spots as well as a wrinkling crop, all of which can cause the plant to die.
It is also important to pinch the side shoots of tomatoes regularly to encourage more fruit.
There are also varieties of tomatoes which are known for a large crop, including Crimson Crush and Ailsa Craig.
