tomatoes/broccoli? a mistake? + companion planting questions

13 years ago

Hi there

Forgive that I am such a newbie. This year is my second year growing vegetables.

I have a raised bed with tomatoes, peppers, marigolds and...broccoli. Was the broccoli a mistake? I grew the tomatoes, marigold and peppers from seed but the broccoli seedlings were an impulse buy. The tomatoes and marigold are not growing well and I'm trying to identify the problem.

Also, there is still some room in the bed and so I am thinking of planting chives and thyme to help with pests . Does this sound like to right thing to do? Or are other plants more appropriate? (I fear that it might be too late in the season for onions, etc. this is why I'm considering herbs)

Also, I am am pouring over any information that I can find on companion planting and so any experience on what to plant with tomatoes (and peppers) will be greatly appreciated.

: )

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Comments (4)

terrybull
13 years ago
there is a companion planting forum.
ceh2101
13 years ago
You need to pull up or move the broccoli. Just search 'companion planting' on google and you will find many sites that explain that broccoli retards the growth of tomatoes.
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JB That's a good question, and the answer is that there's something in the brassica family that stunts tomato growth. From the link below. ===== Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower all retard tomato growth, and share some pests in common. ===== There are several plants that negatively affect the growth of other specific plants. It's called allelopathy. Here's more information about this phenomenon: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS186 I don't think onions would work as a barrier crop, since the chemical reaction occurs and spreads in the soil. Maybe your solution is to grow one or the other in containers. Here is a link that might be useful: Companion plants for tomatoes
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Gardengal48 - such is my respect for your knowledge that I am quite happy to change my mind. But I am pretty sceptical about statements like the ones mentioned by kimmsr where plants are said blithely to 'get along' with each other or 'like' each other. There never seems to be any scientific evidence given. For example what were the controls in the chamomile/cabbage experiment? Or was there even an experiment? Is it just anecdotal conjecture? You mention studies and that is what I want to know before accepting a lot of these statements. If cabbage whites find Brassicas by scent it does makes sense that highly scented plants can put them off. Not that the marjoram clumps around my allotment seem to bother the butterflies much. And that is another important point you make. The effects of companion planting, even if based on science, can only be one aspect of coping with pests.
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I'm not sure I'd worry too much about companion planting advice, at least don't follow it slavishly. There's a lot of quite variable information, and on occasion I have observed different combinations doing the opposite of what the companion planting guides suggest they should. I've had brassicas near tomatoes with no sign of problems, and I think peas and tomatoes too. The only combinations I avoid are potatoes and tomatoes (they share diseases), and any form of pea or bean with any form of onion, garlic or relative (that one might just be a myth though, I haven't seen an obvious effect). Also, don't plant the same crop, or a close relative, in the same spot year after year with nothing in between, as it allows disease to build up. I can't see anything in the plans you have suggested that would concern me based on my own experience. Autumn/ fall planting of broad beans does result in plants that grow slowly in the winter then start producing in the spring, but that is good, because it is a difficult time to keep vegetables going. Same with peas in my experience. I had self-sown broccoli germinating in mid-summer and I ate them in late autumn and early winter, and I'm still getting occasional sprouts now, in midwinter.
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I'll share a little more on my experience last year. I gave companion planting a run, and this is what I found: I had no idea how huge my marigolds and nasturtiums were going to get in well tilled, fertilized soil. they were bush sized by the summer was over, and it made life difficult getting into my plants to harvest without serious pruning. It certainly was colorful and pretty - however other than having more pollinators than i could shake a stick at, i didn't see any literal effects of the companion method. pests were still there, disease still surfaced via bugs as well. can herbs such as basil and others affect tomato and pepper flavor...the jury is still out on that. my palate may not be olympic caliber, but i certainly couldn't tell any difference among plants that had or did not have companion planting. the best results i've heard have to do more with physicl benefits, such as lettuce growing early and getting some shade later on once the sun really heats up. I have heard that it works to plant radishes with carrots... the radishes mature super fast and when you pull them it creates great space for the carrots to grow into as they mature later. I understand that some people swear up and down by companion planting. i will likely always do it to some degree, but don't expect any miracles based solely on that. if nothing else, it often brings variety and color to your garden, which is always a bonus in my book. one last time: don't make the mistake of crowding, it's easy to do and a pain to deal with later on =) -Rathos
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digdirt2
13 years ago
No offense intended but I think you will find that "companion planting" isn't a widely popular approach. It is considered a very minor school of thought, a fad, by most experienced gardeners. So if you are interested in learning about it, by all means do so, but please understand that you won't find it frequently discussed on general gardening forums. That is why they have their own forums and info sites.

In my personal opinion, based on some 40+ years of gardening, the problem with your broccoli is that while it can leach some nitrogen from your tomato plant's soil it is minimal and can be easily replaced. Your broccoli was simply planted far too late in your zone. In our zone, when the time comes to plant tomato plants the broccoli should be almost ready to harvest +/- a couple of weeks. So when proper planting times are used, they pose no problems for each other. At this late date it is too hot for it to form a head anyway so you might as well pull it.

The marigolds are a whole other problem as they attract aphids and whiteflies which then infect your tomato plants. That has been discussed here and a search of this particular forum using 'marigolds' will pull up the discussions about all the problems they cause.

But if you want to practice companion planting then your best source of info will be their forum and their info sites.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Companion Planting forum
beautifulboy
Original Author
13 years ago
Well.......Thanks the advice to post in the companion planting forum. I didn't post in the companion planting forum because I am looking for help with the tomatoes..and so I thought I'd go right to the tomato experts.

Gathering from these responses the broccoli is a problem and needs to be pulled. The tomatoes are my first concern. Although the broccoli isn't doing well....it is very chilly where we live and so cool(er) weather vegetables seem to do well into the summer.

Also, judging from responses, my soil seems to be the culprit. If it is over for my tomatoes this season maybe I should look toward restoring soil PH for next year.

As for marigolds. I have read all over that marigolds are good for pest control..but clearly further reading should be done on the subject. I certainly don't want to attract aphids.

Finally I just have to mention that this is all a learning process, sometimes a lengthy one. I love my garden and growing things and hope to be working in this garden and future gardens for decades to come.

tomatoes/broccoli? a mistake? + companion planting questions

Comments (4)

terrybull

ceh2101

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tomatoes/broccoli? a mistake? + companion planting questions

Comments (4)

terrybull

ceh2101

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beautifulboyOriginal Author

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