The best companion plants for tomatoes include:
- Marigolds: Help control nematodes and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs that feed on aphids.
- Garlic and Onions: Natural pest repellents that deter moths, cabbage loopers, and root maggots.
- Basil: Enhances tomato flavor and repels whiteflies and aphids.
- Carrots: Aerate soil to improve drainage and nutrient uptake.
- Borage: Attracts pollinators and deters tomato hornworms.
- Lettuce: Acts as living mulch and has shallow roots that don't compete with tomatoes.
- Chives: Repel aphids and improve tomato flavor, with antifungal properties.
- Thyme: Reduces armyworm egg-laying and serves as living mulch.
- Cowpeas: Attract stink bugs away from tomatoes.
- Fennel, Oregano, Cilantro, Sweet Alyssum: Support beneficial insects for pest control and pollination.
- Flowers like calendula, cosmos, zinnias, and lavender attract pollinators and repel pests.
Avoid planting onions and garlic near tomatoes if thrips are a problem since they are susceptible too. These companion plants collectively improve pest control, pollination, soil health, and flavor for tomatoes.
