I grow basil with my tomatoes and the only time their flavor mixes is after I've chopped the two up together in a salad bowl ;-) There's no way that proximity can change the genetics responsible for flavor.

I honestly don't know if one benefits the other when grown together, but I've not seen a detriment either. To me it's a traditional thing to do, like edging my tomato beds with marigolds.

I know that basil throws off the hawk moth. when i plant basil with my tomatoes, i usually get very few tomato worms and not until late in the season, once my basil has faded.

i know of the italian wives tale that growing basil near tomatoes makes the tomatoes taste better...but i don't think it means that the tomatoes taste of basil...personally, i think it just means that the plants stay healthier because the basil keeps pests away, therefore you have better tasting tomatoes.

From what I understand, the basil and the tomato complement each other, each supplying nutrients that the other needs. I grow basil with my tomatoes. They both seem to grow well. Unfortunately, one of the stupid squirrels dug up my basil, and it died. :-(

I hate squirrels.

I agree with you on the squirrels thing...

I think like Trudi, I grow my basil with my tomatoes because they are a natural together (chopped up). :) I've never found a benefit other than when they are harvested - but I have never grown tomatoes WITHOUT basil, so I'm not a good case study...