Tomatoes can be a bit high-maintenance, but pairing them with the right plants makes all the difference. Some garden friends help tomatoes grow stronger and keep pesky bugs away without any extra work.
I love how these combos bring balance and buzz to my backyard. Plus, they add extra beauty and flavor to the whole space.
If you want your tomatoes happy and bug-free, these plants are the secret sauce.
1. Basil
Nothing enhances tomato flavor quite like fresh basil growing nearby. The aromatic oils released by basil leaves confuse and repel tomato hornworms, whiteflies, and even mosquitoes that might otherwise feast on your plants.
Many gardeners swear basil improves tomato taste when planted as neighbors. The strong scent also masks the tomato smell that attracts pests, creating a natural protective barrier while providing you with ingredients for perfect pasta sauce!
2. Marigolds
The bright blooms aren’t just pretty faces in your garden! Marigolds release a compound called alpha-terthienyl from their roots that repels nematodes, tiny soil-dwelling worms that attack tomato roots underground where you can’t see the damage happening.
French marigolds work especially well for this purpose. Plant them as a colorful border around your tomato patch for maximum protection. The cheerful orange and yellow flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs that hunt tomato-munching aphids.
3. Nasturtiums
Consider these colorful flowers your garden’s sacrifice zone. Aphids absolutely love nasturtiums, preferring them over your precious tomatoes. By planting nasturtiums nearby, you’re essentially creating a living trap crop that lures pests away.
The bright orange, yellow and red blooms are completely edible too! Add the peppery flowers and leaves to salads for a spicy kick. Nasturtiums grow quickly with minimal care, spreading their protective influence throughout your tomato patch.
4. Garlic
The pungent aroma of garlic confuses and repels many common tomato pests including spider mites, aphids, and even larger threats like rabbits. Fall-planted garlic will be growing strong just when your spring tomatoes need protection most.
Garlic also helps prevent fungal diseases that plague tomatoes. The sulfur compounds it releases act as a natural fungicide in the soil. Plant garlic cloves in a protective circle around tomato plants or intersperse them throughout your tomato bed.
5. Borage
The star-shaped blue flowers of borage attract pollinators like crazy while deterring tomato hornworms. Honeybees especially love borage and will increase pollination throughout your garden while visiting these lovely blooms.
Garden wisdom suggests borage actually improves tomato flavor and growth. The plant adds trace minerals to the soil as its leaves decompose. Borage is a self-seeding annual that comes back year after year once established, creating a permanent tomato protection squad.
6. Carrots
The humble carrot forms a perfect underground partnership with tomatoes. While tomato roots grow deep, carrot roots grow downward, loosening soil without competing for nutrients or space. This root synergy improves soil structure for both plants.
Carrots also release chemicals that repel certain tomato pests. The carrot foliage provides light shade for tomato roots during hot weather. Harvest your carrots as needed while leaving tomatoes to continue growing through the season for a space-efficient garden plan.
7. Chives
These slender, onion-flavored perennials pack a powerful punch against aphids and spider mites. The sulfur compounds in chives naturally repel these common tomato pests while taking up minimal garden space with their upright growth habit.
Purple chive flowers attract beneficial insects that prey on tomato pests. Snip chives regularly for kitchen use – the trimming encourages fresh growth and releases more protective compounds. Once established, chives return year after year, providing ongoing protection for your tomato patch.
8. Calendula
Often called pot marigold, calendula’s bright orange and yellow flowers act as a magnet for beneficial insects. Hover flies and ladybugs flock to these blooms before hunting aphids and other soft-bodied pests that damage tomatoes.
Calendula roots release compounds that improve soil health and deter nematodes. The flowers are edible too – harvest them for salads or to make healing skin salves. Their sunny blooms brighten the vegetable garden while working hard to protect your precious tomato harvest.
9. Dill
The feathery foliage of dill attracts beneficial wasps that prey on tomato hornworms. These tiny wasps lay eggs on the hornworms, and when the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae consume the pest from the inside – nature’s perfect pest control system!
Dill flowers attract other helpful insects like hoverflies and ladybugs. Plant dill at the edges of your tomato patch rather than directly adjacent, as mature dill can inhibit tomato growth. Young dill and tomatoes make excellent neighbors before the herb matures.
10. Cilantro
The distinctive scent of cilantro confuses and repels many tomato pests, particularly aphids and spider mites. The herb’s tiny white flowers attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and hoverflies that hunt tomato-destroying caterpillars.
Allow some cilantro plants to flower and go to seed (becoming coriander) for maximum pest protection. Succession plant cilantro every few weeks during growing season. The plants bolt quickly in hot weather but will continue providing pest protection even after flowering.
11. Parsley
This kitchen staple attracts hoverflies whose larvae devour aphids by the dozens. The flat, umbrella-shaped flowers of parsley are perfect landing pads for these beneficial insects that help protect your tomatoes naturally.
Parsley’s deep taproot brings up nutrients from lower soil layers that benefit nearby tomatoes. The herb grows well in partial shade cast by taller tomato plants. Both curly and flat-leaf varieties work equally well as tomato companions, so choose your kitchen favorite.
12. Mint
The strong aroma of mint repels many tomato pests including flea beetles and aphids. Ants, which farm and protect aphids, absolutely hate mint and will avoid areas where it grows, breaking the aphid-ant partnership that damages tomatoes.
Always plant mint in containers sunk into the ground near tomatoes. This herb spreads aggressively through underground runners and can take over a garden if not contained. The cooling scent makes gardening more pleasant while protecting your precious tomato crop.
13. Alyssum
The tiny white or purple flowers of sweet alyssum bloom continuously, providing constant nectar for beneficial insects. Hoverflies especially love these blooms and lay eggs nearby, producing larvae that can each eat up to 400 aphids during development.
Low-growing alyssum forms a living mulch under tomato plants, suppressing weeds and keeping soil cool and moist. The carpet of flowers creates habitat for ground beetles that hunt slugs and other crawling pests at night. This pretty plant works overtime protecting your tomatoes!
14. Sage
The strong scent of sage confuses and repels both carrot flies and cabbage moths that can damage nearby tomatoes. This aromatic herb attracts pollinators while its deep root system avoids competing with tomato roots for nutrients.
Sage’s silvery-gray foliage creates beautiful contrast against tomato greens in the garden. The herb grows slowly but lives for years, providing ongoing protection. Plant sage where it will receive good airflow to prevent powdery mildew issues in humid climates.
15. Oregano
This pizza-perfect herb creates a protective forcefield around tomatoes. The strong essential oils in oregano leaves deter many common garden pests while attracting beneficial predatory insects that hunt tomato-munching bugs.
Low-growing oregano makes an excellent ground cover under tomato plants. The herb thrives in the same well-drained soil tomatoes prefer. Greek oregano varieties offer the most intense flavor and pest protection. Allow some stems to flower for maximum beneficial insect attraction.
16. Thyme
The tiny but mighty thyme plant repels cabbage worms and tomato hornworms with its aromatic oils. Its shallow root system doesn’t compete with deeper tomato roots, making it an ideal garden companion that needs similar watering.
Creeping thyme varieties create living mulch that suppresses weeds around tomato plants. The herb’s tiny flowers attract beneficial insects throughout the growing season. Plant thyme where it will get some protection from afternoon sun to keep its oils concentrated for maximum pest protection.
17. Petunias
These colorful flowers aren’t just pretty faces in the garden! Petunias naturally repel tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, and aphids. Their sticky stems actually trap some small insects that attempt to crawl up toward your tomato plants.
Available in countless colors, petunias brighten the vegetable garden while working as pest control. The trumpet-shaped blooms attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies. Plant petunias in containers among tomatoes or as colorful borders around your tomato patch.
18. Cosmos
The delicate, daisy-like flowers of cosmos attract beneficial insects by the dozens. Green lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps all visit these blooms before hunting aphids and caterpillars that damage tomatoes.
Tall cosmos varieties provide light afternoon shade for tomatoes in hot climates. The plants require minimal water once established, making them perfect companions in drought-prone areas. Their ferny foliage adds texture to the garden while their long stems make perfect cut flowers.