Tomatoes are hungry, thirsty and a magnet for whitefly and aphids, so the best companions for them do one of three jobs: lure pests away, bring in the hoverflies and bees that keep aphids down and fruit setting, or simply make good use of the space at their feet while they stretch up.
The classic pairing — tomatoes and basil — is a real one. Basil grows happily in their dappled shade, the two are made for each other in the kitchen, and many growers swear the basil helps keep whitefly off. Tuck marigolds in around the edge and you've got the holy trinity of the summer bed.
Grow these alongside
Thrives in the tomatoes' shade, may deter whitefly, and they're perfect together on the plate.
Pull whitefly and bring in hoverflies whose larvae eat aphids — the single best flower for a tomato bed.
A 'sacrificial' magnet that draws blackfly and aphids onto themselves, away from your tomatoes.
Their scent confuses aphids, and they use the ground space without competing for height.
Happily grows in the cool shade beneath the plants and is cropped before the tomatoes get huge.
A bee magnet that boosts pollination and fruit set — and the flowers are pretty in a Pimm's.
Keep these apart
Same family, same diseases — keep them apart so blight can't hop straight across.
Heavy feeders that compete hard for the same nutrients, and they like different conditions.
Releases substances that can stunt nearby plants — best grown in a bed of its own.
Flowers worth tucking in
The blooms that pull pests away and bring in the bees — beauty that earns its keep.
The workhorse — whitefly off, hoverflies in.
Sacrificial aphid trap, edible flowers.
Bees and pollination, all summer long.
Common questions
Do marigolds really keep pests off tomatoes?
French marigolds genuinely help with whitefly and bring in the hoverflies and ladybirds that eat aphids — that part is well supported. They don't repel every pest, so treat them as one useful part of the picture alongside good airflow and even watering, not a magic forcefield.
Can I plant basil and tomatoes in the same pot?
Yes — it's a lovely combination in a big pot or growbag. Just keep them well fed and watered, because both are hungry, and give the basil a little light by not letting the tomato foliage smother it completely.
What should you never plant near tomatoes?
Keep tomatoes away from potatoes (they share blight), brassicas (they compete heavily), and fennel (which can inhibit nearby growth).
Want the whole picture?
The complete companion planting guide →