Do you plan to plant companion plants ?

daniel_nyc

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

The companion plants I planted in my garden 2 years ago.

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beesneeds

11 years ago

I grow marigolds on the edges of my lasagna beds, but it's more of a pretty factor than a companion factor. And with this years bed rotation, the marigolds are on the edges of pepper, squash, and bean beds, and not along the tomato beds at all, lol. And I thickly direct sow marigold seed too- that way it's a nice bushy border and if/when they get bug-tacular I can just pull those plants if needed.

This year it's carrots and leafy greens edging the tomato beds- but that's more of a got that little space left over I can cram them into rather than companionship. But hey, if it helps, why not?

I've never been sure how basil is supposed to improve tomatoes either- I always figured it was kind of an old wives tale because tomatoes and basil are so often companioned in cooking rather than the growing aspect of it.

I would never grow garlic in my tomato bed- my garlic gets it's own beds, and honestly is one of the only beds that is perfectly picked clean of anything that could compete with the garlic. Garlic might be good for tomatoes, but I wouldn't want to chance tomatoes out competing my garlic.

Borage gets it's own growing space too, because it has it's own application, and I don't want it competed with. I grow calendula aside too for the same reason. My sage is in the herb garden, and I don't grow chives because I have large swaths of my lawn that are thick with wild chives so I don't need to grow any.

Nasturtiums can be a great companion plant as far as I'm concerned- but as a companion plant only as a trap plant that I'm willing to sacrifice. I had a nasty aphid infestation last year, and the nasts trapped almost all of them- and when a bit of the plant got infested, I promptly cut it off and drowned it. I grew them next to peppers and squash last year, and they didn't get a single aphid. I wouldn't rely on nasts as a companion to just let sit and do whatever. But then I have the tendency to grow hedgerows of nasts because I use them a lot for various eating too, so I can use them as sacrificial companions and eating plants.

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Comments (9)

daniel_nyc
Original Author
11 years ago
12 companion plants to grow alongside your tomatoes
digdirt2
11 years ago
Sorry I just never can buy into the companion planting hype and based on past discussions here and on other gardening forums I don't think many do. (One reason why they were given their own forum here.)

The problems created by the different water and nutrient needs of the plants, the pest problems created, the shading, and the poor performance of various plants that results far outweigh any possible benefits. Some of those issues are indicated in the article you linked.

One frequent example discussed here in the past is the marigolds - a wonderful aphids and whiteflies magnet if you really want them on your tomatoes planted next to them for some reason. :)

Dave
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Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
I couldn't agree more with Dave.

It is not just the available space around the tomato plants. Most of those plants would need different watering and fertilizing needs. Unless one is going to go just with tomato plants requirements. Another problem is spraying tomatoes with fungicide so often. I would not want any edible greens to be around for that reason also. YMMV

Sey
daniel_nyc
Original Author
11 years ago
I don't know if it was because of this small companion flowers garden, but last year I had NO pests...
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
That does not look like "Companion Planting " to me. It is a separate flower bed..

Sey
digdirt2
11 years ago
Yeah we have flower beds and herb beds all over the place . Many right on the edges and sides of the vegetable gardens - wife plants them by the hundreds - and full of all sorts of flowers. But still had the usual pests to deal with. Wife loves borage, one of the things mentioned in the article you linked above that claims it protects tomatoes from hornworms. Tell that to my hornworms. :)

Then there is one about how planting basil next to tomato plants makes the tomatoes taste better/sweeter. They never explain how that is supposed to happen. But since Japanese beetles, and flea beetles, and leaf miners and aphids simply loovveee basil I don't want it next to my tomato plants anyway. Why put up a sign "Hole in the Wall Dining - No reservations required" next to my tomato plants?

Dave
Vince (8) Kemper
11 years ago
I used to grow some marigolds in pots around the tomatoes to attract bees but stopped when I didn't notice and production increase in the tomatoes.
daniel_nyc
Original Author
11 years ago
So, did you plant any companion plants this year ?