What Can I Plant Under Tomatoes?

Tomatoes are a great addition to any garden, and their versatility makes them perfect candidates for companion planting. By planting certain plants under your tomato plants, you can improve soil health, prevent pest infestations, and increase tomato yields. Here are some excellent options for plants to grow under your tomato plants:

1. Basil

Basil is an excellent choice to plant under your tomato plants because it can help repel unwanted pests like aphids and tomato hornworms. Additionally, grown together, tomatoes and basil can improve each other's flavor. In fact, planting basil near tomatoes has been shown to improve the tomato's taste and aroma.

2. Marigolds

Marigolds are another great plant to grow under your tomato plants because they can naturally repel pests like nematodes and whiteflies. Additionally, marigolds have been shown to help improve soil health by releasing chemicals into the soil that naturally suppress harmful pathogens.

3. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are a versatile plant that can help benefit your tomato plants in a variety of ways. They can repel pests like aphids and whiteflies and are also known to attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and bees, which can help improve pollination. Additionally, nasturtiums have been shown to help reduce soil-borne diseases like Fusarium wilt, which can be detrimental to tomato plants.

4. Chives

Chives are another excellent choice of plant to grow under your tomato plants. Like many other companion plants, chives can help repel harmful pests that are attracted to tomatoes, such as aphids and whiteflies. Additionally, chives are known to improve soil health, and their alliums have natural fungicidal properties that can help prevent soil-borne diseases.

5. Borage

Borage is a great plant to grow under your tomato plants because it is known to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can help increase tomato yields. Additionally, borage can help repel harmful pests like tomato hornworms and cabbage worms, which are common pests that can damage tomato plants.

The Bottom Line

By growing certain plants under your tomato plants, you can improve soil health, repel unwanted pests, and increase tomato yields. The five plants listed above are just a few of the options available to you. When deciding which plants to grow under your tomato plants, be sure to do your research and choose plants that will complement your tomatoes and help them reach their full potential.