Planting companion plants with my tomatoes
I've always known companion planting was best when growing a tomato in a flowerpot and I have to say it was one of the best things I ever learned when I took Horticulture in school. You really don't understand just how much of a difference it makes unless you do an experiment like I did to find out if it really makes a difference.
I have to tell you.... YES it makes a difference
Some plants just naturally love each other and thrive to live with each other. They are no different than us as humans. I took 2 of the same variety of tomatoes and planted one as a stand alone in a flower pot and I took the other one and planted companion plants with it. I placed them both side by side in the same sunny location and started my experiment.
There is no dough in my mind / Here's my results
- The tomato with the companion plants tasted much sweeter or sharper in flavor.
- The tomatoes with the companion plants grew bigger
- The plant with the companion plants looked bigger and healthier
- The tomato with the companion plants were richer in color
- The tomato with the companion plants had no white fly problems at all. Come to think of it... I haven't seen any black fly's either.
- Oh.... and horn worms.... none attacked but I did have to pick them off the tomato that wasn't planted with companions.
What Companion Plants did I use?
Look at the photo above... do you see the pretty purple plant on the right hand side? Well this is a purple basil. This is a garden herb and any variety of the basil family is great to plant in the same pot with a tomato. I have 4 different basil varieties planted among my tomatoes in pots. Eash one is a different color and looks just beautiful in the pot. Basil is know to repel insects, improves the growth of the tomato and enhances the flavor of the tomato.
Basil Smell repels mosquitoes:
I really love how the smell of basil repels mosquitoes and flies especially since I have it on my patio where I sit all the time. Yep, it not only helps my tomatoes to grow but it helps protect me from getting mosquito bites too.
🌱I use many herbs as Companions Plants for Tomatoes in pots
To sum it up... I like to plant all herbs in the same pot as my tomatoes. I use all varieties of basil, chives, parsley, sage and.... so on. 😀 I like using these herbs because not only are they good for the tomato but they grow short and flat which is perfect for plants under a tomato in a decorative flower pot. I've been known to stick a few marigolds around too but that's not an herb now is it. LOL.... but you can eat the flowers. Ha!
Both the basil and tomato enjoy the same nutrients, water & sun.
A tomato plant grows up right and tall and a basil plant grows low and short. The two planted together is perfect because the basil plant help to shade the soil and keeps the tomato roots cooler. They help keep the tomato from drying out. They work great together.
List of Companion Plants for Tomatoes planted in the garden / in alphabetical order
- Amaranth
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Beans
- Borage
- Calendula (marigold)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chives
- Cleome (spider flower)
- Cosmos
- Cucumber
- Garlic
- Lemon Balm
- Lettuce
- Mint
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Parsley
- Sage
- Squash
In Closing:
Plants bring me so much joy; even vegetable plants that are not known for their beauty. But when you combine them with beautiful herbs of all colors... it's just so darn beautiful! Really! I hope this encourages readers to try growing tomatoes and herbs in a flower pot. It's the best choice for small space gardening and so rewarding to watch them grow. Give it a try.
► Shop Herb Seeds / https://amzn.to/3m1IBre
Thank you for visiting today. Pam
No comments:
Post a Comment