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[Tomato Dirt #200] Plant These Companion Plants to Protect Your Tomatoes From Pests
April 16, 2020

Tomato Dirt Newsletter
Volume 10, Number 8

Dear Tomato Dirt reader,

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


FREE Kitchen Gardener Planner for Tomato Dirt Readers!

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FEATURE: Plant These Companion Plants to Protect Your Tomatoes From Pests


Image: USDA

You can protect tomatoes from pests with companion plants -- those 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.

Tomato plants are among the favorite menu items for certain insects, including aphids, whiteflies, and different types of beetles. Once these pests flit into your garden and discover your luscious, healthy tomato plants, suddenly it’s Feast Time. But companion plants act as natural defenders against these tomato pests, either by repelling harmful insects or attracting helpful insects (to eat the harmful ones.)Try these companion plants to protect your tomatoes from pests:

  • Basil: repels flies, mosquitoes; attracts bees
  • Borage: attracts bees and wasps
  • Cabbage: repels whiteflies, moths
  • Chives: repel many insects
  • Collard greens: repels flea beetles ... (keep reading about companion plants to protect tomatoes. )

Be sure to check out our Companion Planting for Tomatoes board on Pinterest for more companion planting ideas.


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Containers and Planters: Best Selection, Built to Last

America's number one resource for gardening and a Tomato Dirt favorite: Gardener’s Supply! Get what you need for this season - raised beds, pots and planters, supports, soils, special offers, and more – plus FREE shipping on orders of $99 or more. 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Link to this page


Tomato Growing Tip: Basil, the Wonder Friend!


Image: Tomato Dirt


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


Get Ready to Plant

Get Ready to PlantAvoid Transplanting Mistakes With The Right Gear

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Tomato Tone and other tomato fertilizersIt’s good to be a drip! Soaker hoses for tomatoes Dig it: garden trowels from Fiskars and others

More Tomato Planting Tips

Planting Tomatoes: Top 10 Tips to Help You SucceedTomato Transplanting Mistakes to AvoidPlanting Tomatoes FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) How to Buy Tomato Plants

That’s it for now. More next time.

Until then, happy gardening!




Kathy with Tomato Dirt
www.tomatodirt.com
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