Can You Plant Tomatoes with Dill?
Tomatoes and dill are two very popular plants to grow in a home garden. But can they be planted together? The answer is yes! In fact, planting these two plants together has a few benefits.
Companion Planting Benefits
One of the benefits of planting tomatoes with dill is that dill acts as a natural pest repellent. Tomatoes can be susceptible to pests such as aphids and spider mites, but these pests do not like the smell of dill. Planting dill around your tomatoes can prevent these pests from attacking your plants.
Additionally, dill can attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings. These insects feed on pests like aphids and can help keep your tomato plants healthy.
How to Plant Tomatoes with Dill
Planting tomatoes with dill is easy. Simply plant your tomato seedlings in the garden and then plant dill seeds around them. Be sure to give your tomato plants enough space so that they have adequate room to grow. Dill should be planted fairly close to the tomato plants so that it can provide the maximum benefit as a pest repellent.
Dill grows best in full sun, so choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight. Water both plants regularly and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer as needed. You should begin to see the benefits of planting these two plants together within a few weeks.
Harvesting Tomatoes and Dill
As your tomato plants start to produce fruit, you can also start harvesting your dill. Dill can be harvested when the plant reaches about 12-18 inches in height. Simply snip off the leaves and stems you need for cooking or preserving.
When it comes time to harvest your tomatoes, be sure to pick them when they are fully ripe. You can tell a tomato is ripe by its color and by gently squeezing it - it should be slightly soft. Be sure to pick your tomatoes as soon as they are ripe to prevent them from over-ripening and rotting on the vine.
The Bottom Line
Planting tomatoes and dill together is a great way to promote a healthy garden. Dill as a natural pest repellent can help keep pests away from your tomatoes, while also attracting beneficial insects to your garden. Planting tomatoes and dill is easy and requires minimal effort, making it a great option for any home gardener. So go ahead and give it a try!