Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 7, Number 7

Dear Tomato Dirt reader,

Welcome back to Tomato Dirt! A couple of times a month, we’ll send you this newsletter packed with tips about growing tomatoes and using them.

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FEATURE: Companion Plants: Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Hurt By Bullies

Image: USDA

Companion plants are vegetables, herbs, or flowers planted nearby that offer a special benefit to tomatoes. Companion plants behave a lot like good friends. 

We all know one of the benefits of good friends: they stick up for you when bullies threaten you, often protecting you from getting hurt.

Companion plants do that for tomatoes.

Once pests and diseases invade your garden and discover your luscious, healthy tomato plants, suddenly it’s Feast Time. But companion plants act as natural defenders by deterring harmful insects, attracting helpful insects, or repelling diseases. Try planting these companion plants to protect your tomatoes:

• Basil: repels flies, mosquitoes; attracts bees
• Borage: attracts bees and wasps
• Cabbage: repels whiteflies, moths
• Chives: repel many insects
• Collard greens: repels flea beetles
• Geraniums: repel cabbage worm, Japanese beetles
• Marigolds: repel tomato worm, asparagus beetles, flea beetles, whiteflies, aphids
• Mint: repels white cabbage moths, ants, rodents, flea beetles, fleas, aphids
• Nasturtiums: repel whiteflies and aphids
• Parsley: attracts hoverflies

Find out more tips about companion plants for tomatoes. And be sure to check out our Companion Planting for Tomatoes board on Pinterest for more companion planting ideas.

Best Tips for Growing Tomatoes

The world's number one tomato Bible. Advice on 1300 varieties, soil preparation, pruning; and extensive help with pests and diseases from a leading industry expert to help you have the biggest, tastiest crop ever.

Tomato Growing Tip: Nasturtiums – a Wonderful Tomato Companion

Image: Tomato Dirt

Get more tips for growing tomatoes on our Tomato Growing Tips Pinterest board.

Tomato Planting Made Easy

2-in-1 Butterfly Nozzle & Sprinkler and other watering tools	Barebones Trowel and other garden hand tools	Watering timers, controllers, and gadgets

More Tomato Planting Tips

That’s it for now. More next time.

Until then, happy gardening!