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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13 Plants You Should Never Grow Too Close To Tomatoes In The Garden
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) may be a garden favorite, but they are notoriously picky about their neighbors. Making sure plants that are close together benefit each other can make or break your tomato harvest. While there are many companion plants you should grow next to your tomatoes that can enhance growth by deterring pests or improving the surrounding soil, others will compete for nutrients, attract more harmful insects, or even release growth inhibitors. Tomatoes are especially vulnerable to poor companion choices because they are heavy feeders that have specific sunlight and spacing requirements. Their long growing season also makes them susceptible to fungal diseases. This means the wrong neighbors can lead to reduced yield, stunted growth, or a complete failure. Usually, the worst companion plants for tomatoes fall under three categories. They are either nutrient competitors that starve your tomatoes of the essentials they need, pest magnets that attract hungry insects, or plants that release certain chemicals that could suppress the growth of surrounding plants. Other bad matches include common herbs and vegetables that thrive in similar conditions to tomatoes. This creates an underground fight for resources through their root systems. Some plants just need different care schedules that conflict with tomatoes. Learning and understanding why some plants are worse than others is important to help create the best possible conditions for your delicious tomatoes. Read more: Plants You Shouldn't Grow Right Next To Your House Corn (Zea mays) and tomatoes make horrible garden neighbors for quite a few reasons. Both are heavy feeders that will fight over your soil's nitrogen and other nutrients. This often leaves both plants undernourished and begging for food. They also share a common pest, the corn earworm, which can quickly become a tomato fruitworm. Corn also grows in tall stalks, which creates excessive shade that could block tomato plants from getting the full amount of sun they need. Both plants also require different watering patterns. Corn prefers constant moisture, while tomatoes do much better with deep, but infrequent, watering. As fellow nightshades, potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and tomatoes share numerous diseases, including early and late blight. Pllanting them close together only helps these fungal pathogens to spread between crops. They both have similar nutrient needs, which will have the two plants fighting over the potassium and phosphorus in your soil. The expansive root systems of both plants will also have them competing for underground space. The way they both grow can create problems as well. Potato leaves can shade tomatoes, and the tomato cages can interfere with hilling potatoes. There are several reasons to think twice before planting fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in your garden. It is especially bad as a tomato companion due to its strong allelopathic properties. The plant will release chemicals that can ruin the growth of nearby plants. Even when planted several feet away, fennel's tall foliage can cast unwanted shade on your sun-loving tomatoes. The taproot also digs deep, competing for water and nutrients in the same soil layers as the tomato's roots. It's best to plant fennel in a separate garden or container. If they must share the same bed, make sure to maintain at least four to six feet between them and monitor your tomatoes closely. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and other brassicas will create multiple problems when planted near tomatoes. These heavy feeders compete aggressively for nutrients, particularly calcium. Their dense foliage can block air circulation, which helps prevent tomato fungal diseases. Brassicas can attract cabbage loopers and other pests that may quickly spread to tomatoes. The plants also have very different pH preferences. Brassicas thrive in more alkaline soil, while tomatoes prefer slightly acidic soil. If you're rotating crops, you'll want to avoid following any brassicas with tomatoes since both deplete similar nutrients in the soil. While young, dill (Anethum graveolens) can help tomatoes by attracting beneficial insects, but mature dill becomes problematic quickly. As the dill flower goes to seed, it releases a compound that can inhibit tomato growth. The tall umbrella-shaped flower heads can shade tomato plants, and the dill's extensive root system will compete for nutrients in the soil. Dill also attracts tomato hornworms, one of the pests you'll want to avoid. For companion planting benefits without any drawbacks, harvest dill before it flowers or plant it at least three feet away. You can also alternate plantings so that your dill matures before tomato plants need the space. Another nightshade cousin, eggplant (Solanum melongena), shares all the disease risks of tomatoes. Verticillium wilt and other soil-borne pathogens can easily spread between these two plants. They also attract the same pests, including flea beetles, hornworms, and whiteflies. The plants' similar growing patterns can quickly create space issues, reducing the air circulation required to combat fungal diseases. Eggplant's broad leaves can shade tomato plants, and both of them will fight over calcium and magnesium in your soil. If you still want to use them in the same bed, try planting basil or marigolds to separate the two plants and help deter common pests. Tomatoes planted near apricot (Prunus armeniaca) trees often struggle due to many elements. Apricot roots release substances that inhibit tomato growth, causing stunted plants and low yields. The tree's expansive root system also competes aggressively for water and nutrients. Additionally, apricot trees create excessive shade as they mature, depriving tomatoes of sunlight. Fungal diseases like verticillium wilt can spread easily from apricots to tomatoes. If you must grow both, consider planting your tomatoes in containers to avoid root competition. While rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) does a great job of deterring pests for many vegetables, it can cause problems for tomatoes when planted too close. This herb prefers dry soil conditions, which is the complete opposite of a tomato's need for consistent moisture. Since tomatoes are such heavy feeders compared to rosemary, they may deplete the nutrients in the soil. This competition can quickly lead to your rosemary dying out before it has the chance to mature. The best bet would be to grow rosemary in a container or separate herb garden nearby to get the pest control benefits without any negatives. Planting tomatoes and peppers together in your garden could be a big mistake. As fellow nightshades, peppers (Capsicum annuum) and tomatoes share a lot of the same diseases, including bacterial spots and verticillium wilt. Planting them close together allows pathogens to easily spread between the two. They also attract the same type of pests like aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms. The plants have different ideal soil conditions; peppers prefer warmer temperatures than tomatoes do. Their similar nutrient needs also have them competing for precious food, and can reduce the yield in both. This less common brassica creates multiple problems when planted next to tomato plants. Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea) has a rapid bulb formation that requires a lot of nutrients and will quickly starve tomatoes of the essential food they need. The big stem base and large leaves cover a lot of soil, which can create damp conditions that help tomato fungal diseases thrive. Kohlrabi also attracts flea beetles and cabbage worms that could easily spread to tomatoes. The plant's growth rates could also pose a problem. Kohlrabi matures quickly while tomatoes need more space later in the season. These beautiful plants make horrible tomato neighbors despite their pest-repelling reputation. Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)have an extensive root system that competes for nutrients and releases growth-inhibiting chemicals that nightshades can't stand. Their height also creates excessive shade that can reduce tomato yields and promote fungal issues from a lack of air circulation. Sunflowers also attract birds that will quickly go for your tomato plants as an easy food source. If you do want both plants, try to maintain a good distance between them and consider shorter varieties that will create less shade. Often planted together, cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and tomatoes actually compete in ways that reduce the yield of both plants. They share similar fungal diseases that will spread easily between plants. Cucumber vines can also overwhelm tomato cages quickly, while tomato plants may shade cucumbers too much. Both are heavy feeders that deplete nutrients when planted close together. Both plants need different watering schedules as well. Cucumbers prefer constant moisture, while tomatoes need deep, but infrequent watering. For the best results, try planting them at opposite ends of your vegetable garden and use trellises to keep cucumber vines at bay. There are a lot of gardening myths about walnut trees destroying other plants, and a lot of what is said is true. Walnut trees, especially the black walnut (Juglans nigra), produce juglone toxin. This chemical will stay in the soil for years after the tree removal and causes wilting, yellowing, and eventual death in sensitive plants like tomatoes. The toxin can affect the water on a cellular level, essentially starving the plants around it. Even at distances of 50 feet or more, tomatoes still show poor yield and stunted growth. If you already have a walnut tree on your property, consider using containers or a raised garden bed with fresh soil for your tomatoes. Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter! Read the original article on House Digest.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
9 Plants You Should Never Grow With Tomatoes
Some plants help tomatoes grow, while others can steal nutrients and compete for moisture. Avoid plants that attract the same pests and diseases and any that may inhibit tomato growth. Choose companion plants that help manage pests and disease, control weeds, and keep the soil are one of the most rewarding plants to have in the garden. They're relatively easy to grow, which makes them great for beginning gardeners while still offering a challenge to established green thumbs. If all goes well, they produce gorgeous fruit to eat in sandwiches or throw on before you start cooking and eating your harvest, you must get your plants to grow. Just like surrounding them with the right companion plants can help with soil enrichment and management of pests and diseases, some plants can harm their growth. We've rounded up a list of plants you should make sure to avoid planting with your tomato plants to ensure they're fruitful. Planting a member of the brassica family, like cabbage, can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they out-compete them for the same nutrients. Cabbage and tomato seeds both need a lot of nutrients to thrive, so the competition makes one plant suffer—and that's usually the tomato. In this case, tomatoes may not produce buds, resulting in no fruit and a wasted harvest. Corn and tomatoes may be great when combined in the kitchen, but not when planted together. This is because they both attract the same sort of pests and fungal infections. Moth larvae feed on both corn and tomato crops, which can destroy any possibility for growth. Putting the vegetables near each other in a garden makes them doubly attractive to bugs, and that will cause double the problems for a gardener hoping for a big harvest. Broccoli, another vegetable in the brassica family, isn't a good choice for planting alongside tomatoes. That's because tomatoes are notoriously hungry for nutrients, and broccoli will compete for the same selection of nutrients in the soil. Both plants are heavy feeders, so planting them separately is your best bet if you want them to thrive. Like brassicas, fennel will inhibit the growth of tomatoes. Fennel isn't a good companion for most garden vegetables and should be grown in a little patch or pot by itself. "Don't plant near bush beans, kohlrabi, or tomatoes because it inhibits their growth," according to the Colorado State University Extension Service. This licorice-scented plant may work well with other vegetables in your recipes, but not in the garden. While many herbs grow well with tomatoes, dill is an exception. Young dill plants can actually do quite well next to tomatoes because they are known to help repel aphids, a tiny pest that affects many plants in the garden. However, when dill matures and is ready to seed, the herbs can inhibit tomato plant growth. The mature plants can easily damage the roots of the tomatoes and stunt their future development. Tomatoes and potatoes are both members of the nightshade family, meaning they need the same nutrients to grow. According to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension Service, "Potatoes resemble tomatoes more than the other family members and often share the same disease and insects." If planted together, they will compete with each other, which doesn't benefit either species and can actually make them susceptible to the same diseases. These diseases can spread through the soil and ruin both plants if one is affected. Also, the proximity of these two plants matters as tomato roots can be damaged when harvesting. Like potatoes, eggplant is in the nightshade family, which making them a competitor to tomatoes. Eggplant is also susceptible to blight, a fungal disease that can rapidly spread through a harvested area via spores blown by the wind. Planting them together makes any tomatoes planted nearby more vulnerable to blight. When sudden browning, yellowing, spotting, or dying leaves appears on crops, this is a potential sign of blight. Choosing to plant tomatoes near a walnut tree may also negatively affect your crop. Walnut trees release chemicals in the soil that stunt the growth of surrounding plants. According to the NC State Cooperative Extension Service, "Tomatoes might grow successfully in the vicinity of a black walnut tree for a while but as the tree grows, so do its roots and eventually the roots will reach the garden." Once walnut wilt strikes, it won't take long for the disease to affect the tomato's fruits, and then the entire plant. This is another brassica to avoid when seeking out companion plants for your tomatoes. Cauliflower and tomatoes both feed heavily on the soil's nutrients. If they're planted close together in the garden, their competition for nutrients will likely result in smaller, less healthy plants. Keep them separate to ensure more opportunities for plant growth and produce development. Asparagus and tomatoes are the dynamic duos of the garden. With the help of the chemical solanine, tomatoes deter obnoxious asparagus beetles, which, can do harm to asparagus plants. According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, "The common asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle feed on asparagus spears and cause browning and scarring." A symbiotic relationship exists between the two plants, because asparagus plants, in turn, repel nematodes in the soil. An infestation of nematodes can harm the plants by attacking tomato roots and inhibiting their growth. Not only are chive plants delicious herbs to have in the garden, but they can repel aphids, nematodes, and mites, making them excellent companion plants for tomatoes. They are members of the allium family and can help keep your tomatoes safe from pests by emitting a strong onion-like fragrance. According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, "Chives thrive in full sun and well drained soil rich in organic matter. Their grass-like hollow leaves have a mild onion flavor and are common in salads and dips." If you're planning a garden that will provide you with salad stuffs, you're in luck, because lettuce and tomatoes are happy companions in the garden. When you plant lettuce near tomato plants, you will create a ground cover that will help keep the soil moist and cut down on weeds (and weeding). In return, the shade cast by rising tomato plants can help provide some protective cover for the lettuce and stop it from bolting (flowering, which turns the leaves bitter and dry) during the heat of summer. The bright blooms of marigolds attract insects like bees and ladybugs, which are good for a garden, but they also keep away pests like aphids, slugs, tomato worms, and snails, all of which love to munch on your growing tomato plants. These helpful plants also help keep the soil healthy for tomatoes. According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, "A few studies show that basil and marigolds can be effective at reducing thrip populations in tomatoes in both field and greenhouse conditions." Basil and tomatoes are friends in the kitchen, and they can be chums in the garden too. "Basil is a great indicator plant for tomatoes," as described by the TexasA&M AgriLife Extension Service, "Basil will show powdery mildew and other diseases before it shows on a tomato plant. It may be too late to spray if you wait until the disease shows up on the tomatoes." According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, "Intercropping with basil may even help to promote tomato growth." Read the original article on Southern Living
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I grow almost all my own food on my small patio garden and have saved THOUSANDS on grocery bills
A man who grows almost all of his own food on his tiny patio garden, saving thousands on grocery bills along the way, has revealed how others can do it too - even if they live in a city. Alessandro Vitale, 34, originally from Italy but now living in London, spent much of his childhood gardening with his grandfather. But after his grandfather passed away he put the hobby aside - that is, until one afternoon when he was cooking with chilies and noticed some 'leftover seeds on the cutting board.' Suddenly, he became inspired to plant them. At the time, he was living in a small apartment in East London and all he had was a 'balcony and a few dried-out plants.' But he emptied the pots, planted the seeds in the leftover soil, and watched day by day as they grew into chilis. 'That was my very first plant - and within a few months, the whole balcony was filled with different varieties of vegetables,' he explained during a recent chat with the Daily Mail. Alessandro eventually moved into a new apartment that had a small outdoor patio, which he transformed into a now-booming garden. Suddenly, he was able to 'drastically reduce' his trips to the grocery store by relying on the food he was growing himself, cutting down his bills immensely. 'Over time, the savings really add up. I grow a big portion of my herbs, vegetables, and even some medicinal plants, which means I don't have to buy those regularly,' he shared. 'Plus, once your garden is established and you start composting, saving seeds, and reusing materials, the ongoing costs are minimal.' Now, he explained that a 'good portion of what he eats' comes from his garden. He has been documenting his endeavor on Instagram under the username SpicyMoustache, where he has racked up more than five million followers. He also released a book in March, called Low Waste Kitchen: Radical Recipes for Sustainable Living, which is 'packed with over 100 plant-based recipes, plus tips on how to reuse scraps, make your own natural remedies and cosmetics, and store food more effectively.' While speaking to the Daily Mail, he explained that there are so many benefits to growing your own food in addition to saving money on food. 'The real goal, at least for me, is to regain a sense of connection with our food, reduce dependence on the system, and become more resilient - even if it's just by growing a few herbs, fermenting your own garlic, or learning how to compost,' he shared. As for others who want to give it a go, he recommended 'starting small' and 'staying consistent.' 'You don't need a huge garden or tons of experience - just a bit of curiosity and the willingness to experiment,' he continued. 'Grow what you love to eat, use what you already have, and don't be afraid to make mistakes - that's where the learning happens. 'Even a few pots on a balcony or a windowsill can change your relationship with food. It's more about the mindset than the space.' He hopes that being so open about his journey will inspire others to try it too, even those who live in cities and think it's impossible. 'Even with a small garden, a balcony, or just a sunny windowsill, you can start building habits that move you toward a more intentional, independent lifestyle,' he concluded. 'It's not about perfection or growing 100 percent of your own food - it's about learning, experimenting, and reclaiming a bit of control over how you live and eat. 'Knowledge grows with practice, and space limitations often push you to get more creative and efficient.'
