Tomatoes will be plentiful and 'best-tasting' if you grow them next to one plant
Growing tomatoes next to one common plant will help them grow bigger and stronger while staying free of pests.
Tomatoes are a popular crop in gardens across the UK due to how easy they are to grow. That being said, if you want to feast on plump and juicy homegrown tomatoes, you'll need to ensure you're providing the optimum conditions for the fruit to grow.
This includes providing adequate sunlight, keeping on top of watering and feeding them the right type of fertiliser. Another thing to consider is companion planting, which is the idea that certain types of plants grow better when placed next to other specific varieties. For example, tomato and basil make great companions in cookery, but they also pair well in the garden.
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According to Martha Stewart's website, "basil and tomatoes share a mutially beneficial relationship".
They explained that while tomatoes improve basil's growth and flavour, basil can repel pests from the tomato plant while also attracting beneficial insects that can pollinate tomatoes.
"Basil grows well next to many different plants," they continued. "In fact, it can improve the taste of its neighbours, and its strong smell can thwart common garden pests like aphids and spider mites."
In addition, basil is not a heavy feeder, so won't deplete the soil of nutrients needed by tomatoes to produce flavourful fruit.
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Basil also acts as a handy early warning flag of potential diseases, with its leaves developing mildew or signs of other diseases before other plants, giving you time to prevent the disease from spreading to your tomatoes.
When it comes to the taste, while there isn't any scientific evidence that basil improves the taste of tomatoes, some believe that growing the herb near your tomatoes improves both the flavour and yield.
Posting to Bonnie Plants, keen gardener Michael Gesling, who tried planting tomatoes and basil together, said: "The results astounded me! From just the 10 heirloom tomato plants in that row, I was able to harvest approximately 200 pounds of the best tasting tomatoes I could remember growing."
Tomatoes aren't the only thing basil can help to grow. Vegetables like carrots, peppers and courgette can also benefit from being planted next to basil, as do herbs including oregano and parsley.
