Mixed crops in the tomato bed have several advantages. When planning, however, you should pay attention to good and bad plant companions, because there are also plants that do not harmonize so well with tomato plants. In this article, you can find out what good and bad companions are for tomatoes in a mixed culture. You will also find a table below to give you an overview. We have also created a digital bed plan to give you inspiration for your mixed cultivation with tomatoes.
Tomatoes thrive best in medium-heavy, humus-rich garden soil. If the soil is too heavy, there is a risk of waterlogging and tomatoes don't like that at all! Tomato plants are heavy feeders, so they need a lot of nutrients. Prepare your tomato bed with compost so that there are always enough nutrients available.
Due to their origin, tomatoes are very heat-loving. Therefore, find a sunny, warm and sheltered spot for your tomato plants. It is also important that the plants are covered and not exposed to the weather without protection.
Tomatoes come in different growth forms. There are bushy growing bush tomatoes and tall vine tomatoes. You can choose a suitable variety depending on the size of the bed and the location. You can read more about "Finding the Right Tomato Variety and Sowing Tomatoes" in this article.
Planning your beds with Mixed Crops follows the principles of Organic Gardening. In this way, you contribute to healthy plants and a high level of biodiversity for both the plants and the garden inhabitants.
With our bed planner, you can easily plan a colourful mixed crop. Good and bad companion plants are displayed directly and you get tips on succession planting and crop rotation!
Plan a Bed NowGood Companion Plants | Bad Companion Plants | |
---|---|---|
asparagus | onions | aubergine |
beans | peppers | cucumber |
cabbage | root parsley | fennel |
carrots | soybeans | jerusalem artichocke |
celeriac | spinach | lovage |
chilli | sweetcorn | okra |
currants | peas | |
garlic | physalis | |
leek | potatoe | |
lettuce | salsify | |
nasturtium | sunflower |
These plant companions are largely based on experience. In general, the principle in nature is cooperation. So don't hesitate to try out other combinations and find out what works well in your garden!
Tomatoes are often grown in greenhouses or foil tunnels in our latitudes. We have therefore created a digital bed plan to give you inspiration for your garden planning. This is what a mixed crop in a greenhouse with tomatoes could look like:
In addition to four different tomato varieties such as 'Green Zebra' or the cocktail tomato 'Sunviva', numerous other plants grow in this greenhouse. You can plant bush beans or chilies between the tall vine tomatoes. They fill the free space perfectly. Beans also fix additional nitrogen in the soil, which benefits the hungry tomatoes.
Now you have enough space in front of the tomato plants that you can fill with other crops. As peppers are often planted in greenhouses in our latitudes, you can plant them in front of the tomatoes. The gaps can be filled with herbs and flowers. Parsley, basil, savory, and oregano go well with tomatoes. Marigolds also go well in the tomato patch. These flowering herbs also attract pollinating insects and other beneficial insects. Celery is also a good companion for tomatoes. Its strong smell keeps some hungry pests away.
Tomatoes are a very popular crop in the vegetable garden, which we like to plant in our beds as a summer crop. Tomato plants are heat-loving, slow-growing plants that can be kept in the bed for a long time as the main crop.
Our tip: Lamb's lettuce is a great catch crop as it attracts earthworms. This contributes to soil health and is particularly good after a heavy feeder such as tomatoes.
Pre-crop | Main crop | Post-Crop |
---|---|---|
asia lettuce | tomatoes | beans |
kohlrabi | lettuce | |
lamb's lettuce | radishes | |
mustard | spinach | |
radish | sweet potato | |
radishes | ||
spinach |
Want to get helpful gardening tips all year round and plan your own beds in the best possible way? Then register here or download the Fryd app for Android or iOS.
Fryd - your digital bed planner
Marie is an agronomist. She is particularly interested in the sustainable and organic cultivation of vegetables and other plants. In her own garden, she gained experience and likes to try things out to learn from nature. She is particularly interested in the values and principles of permaculture, in order to contribute not only to the well-being of nature, but also to the well-being of people and future generations.
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My summary of the tomatoes this year 🥰 1st place MARY ROBINSON'S GERMAN BICOLOR Not quite suitable for outdoor cultivation with this year's weather, medium yield, but an explosion of flavor. 2nd place ANANAS TOMATE Also weakened due to the weather, low yield, but always delicious. 3rd place HEART OF GOLD Extremely healthy despite all weather conditions, high yielding, 5 kg from one plant, close in taste to 1+2 and will definitely continue to be grown, none was as good in yield as this one. 4th place SGT. PEPPERS Dry plant, always looks slightly sickly, medium yield, but absolutely delicious. 5th place ARTISAN BLUSH TIGER Rich, healthy, absolutely delicious 🤤 6th place BOLIVIAN FRUIT TOMATO Extremely rich, absolutely delicious, great for snacking and drying. 7th place GARDEN PEACH Weak, but bears well and is surprisingly spicy for a yellow tomato. This assessment is of course subjective and only my own, but I just love beefsteak tomatoes 😂 and can do more with them. The varieties mentioned all fit perfectly into my taste repertoire. I prefer a good balance between sweetness, acidity and fruitiness. I had several other varieties in cultivation, which were also quite good, but the ones mentioned here will be grown again next year under better conditions.
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Two @Cour de Bue and three @Andenhörnchen. The @pineapple tomato never makes it into the photo because it is eaten beforehand.
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First melon harvested, low seed is different, but no matter
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Which plants are good companion plants for tomatoes in a mixed crop?
Good neighbors for tomatoes include beans, chilli, currants, garlic, carrots and spinach. You can find out more in the article.
Which plants should not be planted next to tomatoes?
Bad neighbors are eggplant, cucumbers, potatoes and fennel, as they promote diseases or create unfavorable growing conditions.
What are the advantages of mixed crops with tomatoes?
Mixed crops help to control pests naturally, promote soil health and improve plant diversity.
How does succession cropping affect tomatoes?
Good pre-crops include lettuce and kohlrabi, while good post-crops include beans and radishes. Tomatoes can also be grown in the same location for several years.