Great companion plants for tomatoes include garlic, onions, chives, lettuce, basil, and sage. Garlic is especially good because it is a powerful insect repellent, so it not only helps the tomato fruits become more flavorful and robust, it tends to repel both aphids and tomato hornworms.
To enhance the natural flavors of all fruits and vegetables, mulch generously with compost and water sparingly, as needed. Sparingly? Yup. Excess water and high nitrogen fertilizer both dilute flavor, and tomatoes grown on the dry side will develop the boldest flavor.
Tomatoes are less compatible with plants from the same family. Potatoes, eggplants and physalis also belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). You should not plant these directly next to your tomatoes. Potatoes and tomatoes are bad neighbors here, as both plants are susceptible to late blight.
Plants recommended for companion planting with tomatoes include amaranth, asparagus, basil, bean, borage, calendula (pot marigold), carrots, celery, chive, cleome, cosmos, cucumber, garlic, lemon balm, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, peas, sage, stinging nettle, sow thistle, and squash.
The fact of the matter is that YES the plants are related and YES they share some common diseases but most people do not have the space in their garden to separate them. The reality is that because the two have similar growth requirements, they can in fact be grown quite successfully together.
Tomato and pasta is a disastrous combination that can wreak havoc on your gut health. Try to avoid the cheese and tomatoes in pasta as the acid in the tomato curdles the dairy and degrades the starchy pasta. Again, mixing carbs and meat will make another bad combination that will be very difficult to digest.
Tomatoes are prone to magnesium deficiency later in the growing season, which can show with yellowing leaves and diminished production. Ultra Epsom Salt treatments at the beginning of their planting and throughout their seasonal life can help to prevent and remedy magnesium deficiency in your tomato plants.
Brassicas: Brassicas such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are not good companion plants for peppers as they require similar nutrients from the soil, which can lead to competition and reduced yield.
Coffee grounds should not be used as the sole fertilizer for tomato plants. The grounds do not contain the nutrient balance that tomatoes need to thrive, and adding too many grounds will affect the soil's pH. Tomato plants can tolerate slightly acid soils, as low as pH 5.5.
Well, if you really want to amp up the taste of your tomatoes, cream of tartar is your answer. Yes, there are other ways to make your tomatoes taste even better and increase the acidity. There is lemon, vinegar, or my personal favorite, balsamic.
Use a Sea Salt Fertilizer
It's true that a lot of salt can be bad for plants, but several studies and taste tests have shown that tomatoes grown with salty, brackish water end up tasting better.
Lettuce is an ideal follow-on crop for tomatoes as it prefers cooler weather and is ready to harvest just 30-70 days after sowing. Succession plant each week so you can enjoy lettuce well into the cold season. Many varieties of lettuce can be grown as cut-and-come-again crops.
Planting them in the same place allows disease pathogens that are specific to tomatoes to build up in the soil. By moving them around in the garden each year, you can break up the disease cycle. Be careful with fertilizer. Young tomato plants are sensitive to nitrogen and can be easily burned if over fertilized.
Most of us have heard that eggshells can help increase the calcium in our garden soil, and some of us may have even tried it in our own yards. The goal is to help prevent blossom end rot on tomatoes and other plants affected by calcium deficiency. As it turns out, using eggshells really doesn't fix anything.
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
Can I Just Sprinkle Epsom Salt on Plants? Never apply Epsom salt straight from the package. Always dilute the granules in water first, and either drench your plants' roots or spray it on the foliage. Don't spray on hot or sunny days, however, to avoid scorching the foliage.
Tomatoes are also fantastic with fruit such as apricot, lychee, nectarines and peach, or berries like raspberry and strawberry. If you'd like to try an unusual herb pairing, lemon balm is a good choice. You could also look further afield for drinks. Cointreau a flavour match for tomatoes, as is a light, floral gin.
However, because they are both heavy feeders, require a lot of moisture and light, and need adequate space around them to promote healthy air circulation, they may compete. In light of this, if you want to grow cucumbers and tomatoes together, it is best to plant them 45 – 60 cm apart and in separate soil if possible.
Testing has shown that some current tomato varieties have pH values at or above pH 4.6; a few have values of pH 5 or even higher. Adding the recommended amount of bottled lemon juice or citric acid lowers the pH of all tested varieties enough to allow for the safe process of water bath canning.