About Tomato
Tomatoes are the anchor of many NZ kitchen gardens — heavy feeders that benefit from basil, marigolds, and allium neighbours while suffering near brassicas, fennel, and potatoes.
Sow after frost risk — spring through early summer depending on region and variety.
Good companions
Plants that pair well with Tomato — tap for their guides. Cited sources appear where research is linked in the matrix.
Basil's strong scent may help confuse aphids and whitefly around tomatoes; a classic kitchen-garden pairing in temperate and subtropical NZ beds.
Marigold Pest controlFrench marigolds (Tagetes) are often planted with tomatoes to suppress root-knot nematodes and distract pest insects.
Nasturtium Trap cropNasturtiums trap aphids and whitefly away from tomato foliage when grown as a sacrificial edge planting.
Carrot MicroclimateCarrots loosen soil around tomato roots while tomatoes shade carrot shoulders — a common interplant in raised beds.
Onion Pest confusionOnions and alliums are often interplanted with tomatoes — scent may confuse some soil pests though evidence is mixed.
ParsleyListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Asparagus Pest controlTomatoes repel asparagus beetles; tomatoes are used as seasonal companions in asparagus bed gaps.
ChiveListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
AgeratumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
AlyssumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Black-Eyed SusanListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
BuckwheatListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Swiss ChardListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
ChrysanthemumListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Cleome (Spider Flower)Listed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Coneflower (Echinacea)Listed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CoreopsisListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
DahliaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
HollyhockListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
HorehoundListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
PetuniaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
PhaceliaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Pyrethrum DaisyListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
SalviaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
SantolinaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
VerbenaListed as beneficial in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
+ 8 more in the matrix
Avoid planting together
Known poor neighbours — spacing apart or rotating beds reduces shared pest and disease pressure.
Tomatoes and brassicas make poor neighbours — different feeding regimes and brassicas may stunt tomato growth in shared beds.
Broccoli CompetitionBroccoli and tomatoes compete for nutrients and space — rotate beds rather than interplanting in the same season.
Corn Shared pestCorn and tomato both attract corn earworm / tomato fruitworm; proximity can increase shared pest pressure.
Potato Shared disease riskBoth are blight-susceptible nightshades. In humid NZ regions, keep beds apart to reduce shared late-blight pressure.
Fennel AllelopathyFennel can inhibit growth of many vegetables through allelopathic compounds — keep fennel in its own bed or 2 m+ away.
KohlrabiListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
CauliflowerListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
Brussels SproutsListed as incompatible in the matrix — open the grid for full context.
+ 3 more in the matrix
Growing tips
- Stake or cage indeterminate varieties; cherry types suit containers.
- Remove lower leaves for airflow; mulch to reduce soil splash blight.
- Psyllid-resistant rootstocks and varieties help in North Island humid zones.
Use the compatibility matrix
Filter to Tomato to see green (beneficial), red (incompatible), and grey (neutral) for every pair among 162 plants. Desktop: hover cells. Mobile: tap for details.