15 Plants to Avoid Planting With Tomatoes

Gardeners frequently use a technique called companion planting to improve their crops’ health and yield. However, certain plant varieties should not be planted together, so it is crucial to know which ones do. Are you planning on companion planting your tomatoes this season but unsure which plants to avoid? Several plants can compete with tomatoes for nutrients or attract unwelcome diseases into your garden due to their growth. This article aims to share with you some of the plants that should not be grown near your tomatoes this season.

15 Plants to Avoid Planting with Tomatoes

Sweet Potato

To prevent the spread of common diseases, such as potato blight, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes need to be kept separate from each other, to prevent the spread of diseases. The best way to grow this toxic twosome is to grow them at opposite ends of the garden whenever possible.

Corn

The two crops may be great for cooking but should not be grown together in the same garden. It has been found that they both attract the same kind of pests as well as fungal infections. Moth larvae feed on corn and tomato crops, destroying any possibility of growth for those crops. Putting these vegetables next to each other in a garden makes them doubly attractive to insects.

Fennel

In the same way that brassicas inhibit the growth of tomatoes, fennel does the same. In most gardens, fennel does not go well with most vegetables and should be grown in its little patch or pot. It is a licorice-scented plant that may work well with other vegetables in your recipes but not in the garden since it does not bear fruit.

In case you missed it: 12 Perennials You Should Never Plant Next to Each Other

Cucumbers

The planting of cucumbers and tomatoes together is something that some gardeners recommend, but there are a few reasons why you shouldn’t do so. One of the things they have in common is that they have similar disease vulnerabilities. The problem is that both plants grow vines, and if those vines grow too dense, they can block air circulation, making them even more susceptible to diseases like blight and cucumber mosaic virus.

Dill

Many herbs grow well with tomatoes, but dill is one of the exceptions. Young dill does well next to tomatoes because of its ability to repel aphids, a tiny pest that affects a wide range of plants. Depending on the dill plants’ maturity and ability to seed, dill can inhibit the growth of tomato plants.

Cauliflower

There are a lot of wonderful companion plant pairings for cauliflower, but tomatoes are not one of them. They are both very demanding crops regarding nutrients, requiring their soil to supply them with many nutrients. A close planting would result in one plant zapping the nutrients from the other, or the two plants would compete so heavily that neither plant could get enough nutrients to grow.

Broccoli

Tomatoes and broccoli are both heavy feeders, and while tomatoes may come out on top, they will benefit more from being separated in the long run. Typically, brassicas (of which broccoli is a member) and nightshades (which include tomatoes) do not grow well together. In both cases, they require many nutrients and will compete for nutrients, resulting in either crop looking or tasting poor. You should keep these two vegetables at least three feet apart for best results.

Sweet Potato

Corn

Brussels Sprouts

In addition to being brassicas, Brussels sprouts cannot be grown with tomatoes. Due to this union, tomatoes will suffer stunted growth since Brussels sprouts will hog all the nitrogen in the soil, leaving tomatoes with nothing to eat. Keep these two vegetables in separate beds to give tomatoes the best chance of success. Both require full sun, plenty of water, and fertilizers high in nitrogen.

In case you missed it: Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Brussels Sprouts From Seed to Harvest

Strawberries

Tomatoes and strawberries can grow in the same season but shouldn’t be planted together. Verticillium wilt, a dangerous fungal disease that can be fatal, can affect all red-fruited plants. The two are so susceptible that if one catches it, the other will follow, so avoid planting them too close together.

Potatoes

As nightshade family members, tomatoes and potatoes require the same nutrients to grow. Consequently, they will compete with each other, which is not beneficial to either of them and can lead to similar diseases. Diseases such as these can spread through the soil, ruining both plants if they are affected by the same thing. Additionally, when these two plants are close together, tomato roots can be damaged when harvested.

Like potatoes, eggplant belongs to the nightshade family, which makes them competitors. Because eggplants are susceptible to blight, tomatoes planted nearby are also at risk. As the wind blows spores, blight spreads rapidly through harvested areas. A sudden browning, yellowing, spotting, or dying of leaves on crops indicates blight. Growing nightshade plants near tomatoes is not a good idea because they can attract the same pests and diseases.

Walnuts

Planting tomatoes near walnut trees can also negatively affect your crop, although this is unlikely. As walnut trees release chemicals into the soil, they stunt the growth of the plants around them.

Kohlrabi

Because it is a brassica, kohlrabi becomes another bad tomato neighbor. You may recall that these plants are competitors for nutrients, especially nitrogen, with tomato plants. Gardening these plants in separate beds would be better as they need to be at least 3 feet apart.

Hot Peppers

Hot peppers and tomatoes may pair well in salsa but shouldn’t be grown together in garden beds. In the long run, keeping these out of each other’s space is a good idea because they are both susceptible to blight. In addition to sharing a common pest, these plants also have a common disease. When tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) target both plants, both crops are affected if these guys show up.

In case you missed it: Effective Treatment for Bell Pepper Diseases: Natural and Organic Solutions

Eggplant

Sunflowers

The nutrient requirements of sunflowers and tomatoes are different, so they shouldn’t be planted together. As heavy feeders, sunflowers require a lot of nitrogen, whereas tomatoes require a balanced fertilizer, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The combined growth of these two plants can result in poor growth and yield since they compete for nutrients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while companion planting can be beneficial for many crops, it is important to be aware of which plant varieties should not be planted together. In the case of tomatoes, avoiding planting them with the above discussed plants can help to ensure a healthy and successful harvest.

15 Plants to Avoid Planting With Tomatoes