Rob Smith provides companions for his tomatoes
Enjoy the benefits from extra planting while seeing off pests
We’re well and truly into the growing season now, with flowers blooming left, right and centre, while tomatoes are swelling and squash are starting to crawl over the beds. As plants get bigger day by day, so can some unwanted pest populations. Preventing multiplying pests in the greenhouse is high on my ‘to do’ list, yet with my personal preference to use as few chemicals as possible, I’m turning towards other plants to help me out.
Companion planting is a natural way of planting in the garden, using one plant to benefit another and help prevent pests and/or disease. A great example of this is using marigolds to underplant tomatoes, as their aroma helps keep greenfly and other pests away from your tomato plants. They also make the greenhouse look attractive. I like to plant three or four small marigold plugs around each tomato.
For maximum benefit, use single-flowered varieties, as these will also provide a rich source of food for bees, although there’ll be plenty of tomato flowers for that if you can’t. I’m using ‘Zenith’ as I love the multi-coloured, smaller flowers.
Another easy way to keep pests away is to sprinkle a few basil seeds around the bottom of tomato plants – I like to use purple and green basil for an eye-catching display. The strong aroma of basil keeps plants problem free, while also giving you some tasty leaves to go with your tomatoes. There are also some gardeners who swear their tomatoes are tastier if grown with basil. If you haven’t grown basil with your toms, you still have plenty of time to sow a few seeds, just remember to remove the bottom leaves from your tomato plants so the sunlight can get to the basil seedlings as they germinate, or they may die before you reap your reward growing them together.
Other plants that are good to grow with tomatoes, either in the same container or in their own smaller container, are chives and mint. Again, this is due to the pungent smell they give off which seems to deter aphids; perfect to protect those tasty tomatoes!