Vegetables
tomato and crush are garden staple . But do they do well as companion plants ? In this article , gardening expert Melissa Strauss expect at if these two democratic veggie should be planted near one another in your garden , or if there are better options .
substance
tomato and summer squelch practically epitomize summertime ’s bounty . Planting these two summer veggies is a no - brainer since they are both easy to grow and require even less workplace in the kitchen .
Whether you ’re looking forward to the ease of a ripe love apple sandwich or planning a more elevated ratatouille , there is something extra special about homegrown .
If you plan to grow these two veg this season , consider conserve space in your garden by planting them together . lease ’s front at how these two crops work together and decidewhether it ’s a salutary idea to make companions of tomato and squash .
The Quick Answer
love apple and summer squeeze have verysimilar environmental need . While they may not extend stellar benefits to each other , they certainly go well together , and planting them near one another willsave prison term and blank . With no know disadvantages , this is a good companionship !
The Detailed Answer
Companion planting is the science and art of planting two or more crop close to each other . This ancient farming method has been used for century to maximise symbiotic relationship between crops .
Native Americans used this process often , with one special combination used so prolifically that it earned the soubriquet “ The Three Sisters . ” The sisters are clavus , squash , and dome . They were planted together because they all profit each other in a way that increases the yields of all three crop .
We can use the same school of thought behind The Three Sisters to create our garden comradeship .
Companion Planting Benefits
When choose craw to be companions , first consider whether the coinage benefit each other or do the opposite . Some of the potential benefits of companion planting are :
Companion Planting Drawbacks
Not all plants make great neighbour , though . Certain crops may not play well with others and opt to grow independently ! Some of the cause ofbad companionsare :
Tomatoes and Squash Together
So , how do tomatoes geminate with zucchini or other types of summer mash , and how well does it stand up to the tests of what makes a good company ? lease ’s take a look at some of the most decisive component .
Season
Both crop are summer - bearing vegetables . They can be embed at the same time , which means less disruption of their roots .
They both mature at nearly the same rate and extend to produce for several weeks ( sometimes months ) during the former spring and summertime .
Sun Exposure
Squash and tomatoes both like full sun . Both can tolerate a lot of heat and want all that sun to produce the corking amount of fruit .
Squash has magnanimous , low leaves that help shadow the background , which mean more moisture is retain in the soil . These large-minded leaves also maximise photosynthesis beneath the dappled canopy of a Lycopersicon esculentum industrial plant .
Moisture
love apple ask 1”-2 ” of water per week . They thrive when the land is kept lightly moist . tearing once daily should be hunky-dory in the early week , but as the temperature rises and your plant get larger , they may need watering twice daily .
Squash are good at conserving weewee because their leaves block sunlight from cooking the piss decently out of the stain . However , they will also be content with systematically moist soil and may reduce the water needed for their tomato neighbour .
Soil
Both plants like fertile , well - debilitate , loamy land . They need soil that retains some moisture but does n’t stay sluggish . It would benefit both plant to fuse in some organic compost orworm castingsbefore planting to enrich the soil .
Nutrients
love apple are labored feeders , which entail they postulate to befertilized regularly . A deadening - release , all - determination fertilizer orTomato - Tone plant foodcan advance more embonpoint , juicy tomato .
Squash does n’t need quite the same level of nutrients , but it wo n’t burn out from the amount of fertilizer a tomato industrial plant needs . The two plants are compatible in this way . Squash is not a child’s play , so heavy - feeding Lycopersicon esculentum wo n’t strip them as long as you keep it coming .
Space
Squash and tomato plant both need blank space to propagate out but in different directions . Summer squash tend to creep along the ground rather than produce upright .
Most of the foliage on a tomato plant will be above the tops of squash plants , particularly if you trellis them . Tomatoes may cast a bit of shade on your squash , but they should be proportionate nonetheless .
Pollinators
mash plants produce big , beautiful aureate blossoms highly cherish by native bee and Apis mellifera . Commercially , honeybees pollinate most of the squash , but you ’ll notice many unlike bees shank - oceanic abyss in your squash rackets peak if you catch closely .
This is terrific for tomatoes , which are also pollinated by bee . tomato have less flashy blossoms that the bee can claver even without have boggy neighbors nearby . But the large squash vine blossoms are a powerful lure for bees , and they will also gravel around for tomatoes after they chatter the bigger , more prominent blooms .
add aborage plantto this combination willincrease the number of pollinatorseven more , as bee love the blue blossom on this herbaceous perennial .
Final Thoughts
Squash and tomatoes play off up across the board , make them very good companions . This pairing will appreciate all the same environmental factors , and institute them together will maximise your space . Squash may have more to declare oneself to tomatoes in this mating , but it does n’t seem to bear in mind . These plant are great neighbors !
