EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.
It’s springtime! And that means it’s time to get your hands in the soil and get planting. And while deciding what you’d like to plant is one thing, another factor to consider is what crops can and cannot go next to each other. For example, can you plant cucumbers and tomatoes together?
This principle is called companion planting and it’s all about grouping plants in your borders or greenhouse that benefit each other. And as tomatoes and cucumbers are among the most popular veggies people take to growing, it’s useful to know whether they can make good companions.
Can you plant cucumbers and tomatoes together?
If you are wondering how to start a small vegetable garden, tomatoes and cucumbers are a good place to start as can make excellent companion plants since they like similar amounts of both water and light, need something to climb up on and enjoy similar types of soil.
But while their similar needs make them easy partners in growth, there are factors you need to be aware of when planting these two together.
‘Both of them are heavy feeders and require lots of moisture and light to grow and they can start competing with each other for nutrients and resources,’ warns Petar Ivanov, Fantastic Gardeners' gardening expert. ‘Still, despite these potential problems, many gardeners claim there are benefits to growing them together.’
So just make sure you provide the plants with enough water, sunlight and nutrients by regularly adding a fertiliser like the Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Food available at Amazon.
Petar Ivanov is one of the company's top-performing experts and manages over six teams of gardeners, delivering stunning landscape results and fostering a deep connection with nature through his work.
Is there a universally good companion plant?
While the best companion plants differ from one variety to the next, there is one plant that most can benefit from to have in their borders.
‘I’d say the best companion plant for almost any plant would be marigolds, specifically for vegetable gardens. These flowers attract beneficial insects and nematodes in the soil, which can help vegetables grow better,’ Petar says.
Where to buy tomato plants:
- Gardening Express: Tomato Plant Moneymaker
- Dobies: Tomato 'Buffalo Steak'
- Amazon: Bedwen Cherry Tomato 'Gardeners Delight'
Where to buy cucumber plants:
FAQs
What should you not plant next to cucumbers?
Surprisingly enough, the plants that shouldn’t be planted with cucumbers are vegetables from the same family as cucumbers themselves. Things like courgettes and pumpkins will be susceptible to the same diseases as cucumbers, so a problem could easily spread.
What should not be planted next to tomatoes?
When it comes to companion planting with tomatoes, the key is to avoid plants that will compete for nutrients too much. And, like with cucumbers, be aware of plants which are prone to similar diseases, in this case potatoes.
And as long as you follow these guidelines you should be all good.
