Home Grow Your Own Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations

Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations

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companion planting design

Did you know that tomatoes hate cucumbers? Consider companion planting. 

While they might taste great together in a salad, tomato plants dislike growing in close proximity to any member of the cucurbit family, which includes cucumbers.

Tomatoes love carrots and basil, however – so planting these together will actually make them each grow more vigorously!

Sounds hokey? The idea that some plants and plant families are “friends” with others and grow better together is called companion planting, and it’s been around since the dawn of food cultivation.

Check out this Companion Planting book on Amazon!
Check out this Companion Planting book on Amazon!

Planting your veggies in neat rows with labels is satisfying to the eye, and easier to harvest. However, when we look to nature, we don’t see rows anywhere, nor do plants all grow clumped up in groups of the same thing together.

Mimicking nature’s biodiversity might make your garden look messy, but it’s been proven to help each plant to grow better. Plants in a polyculture are more resilient and tend to have fewer losses from insects or disease.

Things like carrots, dill, parsley, and parsnip will attract praying mantises, ladybugs, and spiders. These predator species of insects feast on the bugs who like to ruin your tomatoes, so it’s a win-win for the tomatoes (and you)!

great garden companions
Check out the Companion Garden book on Amazon.

This is also why it’s a great idea to interplant flowers with your vegetable plants–particularly marigolds and nasturtiums. These flowers will attract and feed beneficial pollinator insects, which will increase the fruit-set of many squashes, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other veggies. Nasturtiums are edible flowers and look lovely in salads, and their nutritious root, called mashua, used to be a staple crop in South American regions.

Finally, some plants simply don’t get along, and won’t do well when they’re forced to share root space. Peppers and beans don’t like being next to each other, nor do potatoes and tomatoes (both members of the nightshade family). Peas prefer being far away from onions, and lettuces do not like to be near broccoli plants.

Here’s a great list of plants that grow well together as garden friends. Or, you can grab a copy of the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Screenshot 2017-03-18 at 8.35.50 AM

Screenshot 2017-03-18 at 8.36.46 AM

To learn more about companion planting, check out the longtime bestseller, Secrets of Companion Planting, and the more recently published book, Great Garden Companions.

Looking for information on how to grow potatoes? Check this link from The Green Pinky for a guide!

Read More: The Five Most Nutritious Vegetables Varieties For The Home Garden

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Leslie Johnson
Leslie Johnson
7 years ago

I agree with everything…. except whenever I grow nasturtiums, they are infested with aphids. (wouldn’t eat a one). Do you have any advice for me? This also happens whenever I grow kale. I didn’t have anything friendly planted next to them, though.

Catherine Bleish
Admin
7 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

I had this issue with kale as well! It was actually so exhausting that I gave up. I will look into this and ask the author if she has any ideas for you!

Richard Hoffman
Richard Hoffman
6 years ago

I had tbe same problem as you. Ants use aphids in the same way that humans use livestock. They actually place aphids on plants. Aphids bear at an incredible pace, sucking on plants and bearing honeydew, a sweet liquid, for ants. The key to growing aphidless kale remains in the timing. Plant kale in a different garden spot than before in the fall! Kale can withstand cold westher! Harvest the kale in the spring. In that way, you avoid the aphid problem!

MJ
MJ
4 years ago

(also you can just wash aphids off, or spray them off with a hose and soapy water.)

Jessica
Jessica
4 years ago

I’ve noticed that one plant gets infected more than the others. I always plant more than I need and throw the most infested ones over the fence where my neighbor’s goats live. By the time the aphids move over, the ladybugs are onto them and clean things up. I think it helps that generations of ladybugs know just where to find the aphids because I’ve never fought them too hard. That probably only works for hobby gardeners though. And I let my kids spray the ant holes with soapy water.

Someone
Someone
7 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Get ladybugs, they eat a lot of them.

“Along with insects, ladybugs also look for pollen for a food source, so there are numerous plants you can grow to help attract them. Flowers and herbs such as cilantro, dill, fennel, caraway, yarrow, tansy, angelica, scented geraniums, coreopsis and cosmos are good choices for luring the ladybug.”

Angie
Angie
6 years ago
Reply to  Someone

Never plant Yarrow! I call it dog poop plant: stinky stinky stinky! Buy a skunk first.

Ellen Ziegler
Ellen Ziegler
6 years ago
Reply to  Angie

i have Red Yarrow! I love Yarrow..Don’t smell, but I love looking at it. Glad to see LAdy Bugs like it too!

Brandon Barnard
Brandon Barnard
6 years ago
Reply to  Angie

Yarrow has medicinal properties, it is beneficial for staunching of blood.

.J. Richard Fowler
.J. Richard Fowler
6 years ago

Stanching of blood… by staunch people.

Eden Dietrich
Eden Dietrich
6 years ago

I agree with most of the article. It is true to say that mostly in nature plant don’t grow in rows, but it is not true to say that things don’t grow all clumped together. A lot of the time the same plants do naturally grow in close proximity to one another, probably because seeds drop and germinated, or the plant spreads under the ground. Also, in Australia, and I’m not sure if this happens anywhere else, there are known associations between some plants which are often found together in the wild. But yes, the principal of randomness is also… Read more »

Laura
Laura
6 years ago
Reply to  Angie

Yarrow is great for insect bites. Rub its leaves on mosquito bites, and the itchiness goes away. With no scratching, the swelling disappears more quickly.

Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  Angie

I agree, but not for the smell. You will never be able to get rid of it once planted. It’s like planting creeping charlie or purple deadnettle.

Bill
Bill
6 years ago
Reply to  Angie

Yarrow is actually a very good medicinal plant. Even more especially for women.

Marshie
Marshie
4 years ago
Reply to  Angie

Yarrow is however an excellent medicinal herb. In tea, capsule or tinctured form it can strengthen the spleen and balance blood (blood clotting ) and was used in WWI field kits to stop bleeding. If you have an infection like chronic uti, yarrow for a few weeks will help break the cycle.

Kay James
Kay James
6 years ago
Reply to  Someone

My friend tried this. As soon as the ladybugs were released, birds came down & ate them all! So she bought more, and the same thing happened. She gave up, cos she said she didn’t buy them to feed the birds!

Joy
Joy
6 years ago
Reply to  Kay James

Basil also helps

Smallspacebigplans
Smallspacebigplans
6 years ago
Reply to  Kay James

It is best to release the lady bugs at night. They will stay closer to where you release them and the birds are asleep.

Katelyn
Katelyn
6 years ago

Let the ladybugs out at night for sure. Plant friendlies next to the kale. And make a soap wash to spray on the underside of the kale where the aphids stay. Use a Castile soap like Dr. Bronner’s Organic liquid Castile soap. Dilute to instructions on bottle. Works wonders for me with all plants affected by aphids. You have to reapply every week.

Rene
4 years ago
Reply to  Kay James

always put ladybugs on your plant in the evening this way they don’t fly away and the birds aren’t eating at night.

Catherine Bleish
Admin
4 years ago
Reply to  Rene

Wow, I never realized birds may eat them at night!!!!

Granny gardener
Granny gardener
6 years ago
Reply to  Someone

Ladybugs love to lay thier eggs in evergreens … this year is especially abundant for ladybugs 😆

A T
A T
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

I had the same issue with tomatoes, i planted a clove of garlic between all the tomato plants, one tomato plant, one clove of garlic, etc.. for each row. The aphids went away in a couple of days and I was also able to grow garlic as a bonus 🙂

Anel
Anel
6 years ago
Reply to  A T

Nice trick. Thanks

Nancy Hebert
Nancy Hebert
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Next time you have problems with your kale dust your plants with self-rising flour. This trick works well with any soft bodied insect. It kills worms fast and is completely organic.

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Nancy Hebert

WOW! Thank you!

Deborah Pawle
Deborah Pawle
6 years ago
Reply to  Nancy Hebert

Worms are friends to gardeners.

Vic
Vic
6 years ago
Reply to  Deborah Pawle

Not the ones that are actually some young moths. Ever heard of the tomato hornworm?

Billie Taylor
Billie Taylor
6 years ago
Reply to  Vic

I believe Deborah Pawle is referring to earthworms, Vic. They burrow through the ground, aerating it and adding to its fertility with their droppings. The tomato horn worm is not actually a worm; it is a caterpillar. Don’t mean to start a firestorm; just could not resist.

Billie Taylor
Billie Taylor
6 years ago
Reply to  Vic

I believe Deborah Pawle was referring to the earthworm, Vic. They burrow through the earth, aerating the soil and improving the fertility with their droppings. The tomato hornworm is not a worm; it is a caterpillar. I don’t mean to start a firestorm, but could not resisting making a comment.

Dede morris
Dede morris
6 years ago
Reply to  Vic

I always have tomato hornworms. They turn into a huge moth but I can’t off hand think of what they are called. I put some in a jar and watched them. They are ravenous eaters, constantly eating the leaves and I don’t remember how long it takes them to pass but I think it’s about every 10 minutes and out of the other end comes the poop until they get ready to morph.

Gardener
Gardener
6 years ago
Reply to  Vic

Worms don’t become moths. Caterpillars do. Common name might be hornworm, but it’s not an actual worm.

Jacqueline Utkin
Jacqueline Utkin
4 years ago
Reply to  Vic

The tomato hornworm is a creature from hell! It’ll consume every tomato plant in record time. Then it will pupate into a giant green caterpillar and burrow down into the soul until it hatches into a giant nightmarish moth!

TAMMY
6 years ago
Reply to  Deborah Pawle

Some worms- but not all-Look it up and see.We’re told to remove grubs and others-so look-(no offense)

sally
sally
5 years ago
Reply to  TAMMY

Dede…plant Marigolds between your tomato plants and you will never see another Tomato Hornworm. Anytime you see evidence, go out in a very quiet part of the day/nite and listen. You can hear them eating and zero in on them. Feed them to your chickens and they will love you forever 🙂

Catherine Bleish
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  sally

WOW! This is great advice, thank you!

JA
JA
6 years ago
Reply to  Nancy Hebert

I’m on a gluten free diet, the flour would make my Kale inedible 🙂

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Good call on that! I wonder if gluten free flour would work???

Billie jo
Billie jo
6 years ago

Maybe diatomaceous earth

Karen
Karen
6 years ago

If it’s self- rising flour that works and not regular flour, then it might be the baking powder in it that is the deterrent. But you’d have to check on that.

Bill
Bill
6 years ago

Diatomaceous earth is good for a lot of things.
Human grade is real good.
Don’t inhale it

Noel
Noel
6 years ago

diatomaceous earth is indiscriminate. It will kill beneficial insects. Bees, Lady bugs, praying mantis. You best bet might be (like someone previously stated) release the lady bugs at night, or get praying mantis.

Beverly
Beverly
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Use diatomacious earth. No glutin and kills bugs fast.

Stac
Stac
6 years ago
Reply to  Beverly

No diatomaceous earth, please. Gardens are a bee haven, and DE is just as deadly to bees as the pest bugs. I do use it, in my chicken coop for chick mites, but not on plants.

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Stac

WOW! Great info!

Brandy
Brandy
6 years ago
Reply to  Beverly

DE Kills bees though ?

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Brandy

What about DE on the soil, not the plant itself?

Caterina
Caterina
6 years ago
Reply to  Beverly

DE kills ALL insects especially bees! It cuts up their exoskeleton and causes them to die. Not a good idea.

Karla Bartness
Karla Bartness
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Flour doesn’t penetrate. WASH ALL PRODUCE

SM
SM
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Just wash it well.

Gabs
Gabs
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

DE diatomaceous earth, has lots of applications but u can use it instead of flour. Side note: stuff is really light so a 10lb bag lasted my small garden two years so far.

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  Gabs

OH YES! We have used DE for ants and it works wonders! And fleas!

Danielle Diakoff-King
Danielle Diakoff-King
6 years ago
Reply to  Gabs

DE is only effective whe. Just applied dry. As soon as water touches it, it renders it ineffective and you must reapply. I fell for this one. It works if you’re on it but it’s kind of a hassle.

Gabs
Gabs
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

diatomaceous earth (DE)

Fi Campbell
Fi Campbell
6 years ago
Reply to  Gabs

Was just wondering where to get DE? We having a flea problem in back yard but can’t use lime because I worry about burning the dogs feet. Is mostly grass? Weeds and dirt at the moment but wish to make veggie gardens soon.
TIA
Fi

Taylor Leigh
Taylor Leigh
5 years ago
Reply to  Gabs

Are you talking about the food grade or the kind for pools?

JL
JL
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Use organic flour…Usually they allergy is due to pesticides which are not found when you buy organic.

Mark
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

All you have to do is wash the kale first to get rid of the flour – it isn’t absorbed into the kale.

CC
CC
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

just wash the flour off before you eat it.

Becker
Becker
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

I was thinking that too!! And here is a little bio lesson for everyone who said “just wash it off”. Would you eat Kale if someone had dusted it with poison and then said “just wash it off”? Are you sure there isn’t any hiding in a leaf somewhere? Gluten is capable of causing intestinal damage at just over 20 parts per MILLION. Not immediate death, but the diarrhea and cramping you get could make you want to die. And for JL…Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder, not and allergy or something caused or cured by eating anything organic. ok,… Read more »

Victoria
Victoria
5 years ago
Reply to  Becker

Autoimmune diseases come from the poisons we eat in everyday processed foods, like refined white flour. That’s why organic would make a difference. Get rid of the toxins, and Celiac’s holes away.

Lesia
Lesia
4 years ago
Reply to  Becker

It is not the ‘flour’ that gets celiacs and those with severe gluten intolerance. It is the gluten in the flour. Gluten is a very sticky substance and not nearly as visible as the flour that it is part of. You will not be able to ‘see’ if you’ve gotten all of the gluten. And for celiacs, it is not worth the risk. My husband has heart damage from being undiagnosed as celiac for far too many years. He also has many different phases of symptoms following an exposure that last up to 9 months. So, no, just washing flour… Read more »

Ally
Ally
6 years ago
Reply to  JA

Neem oil. Nontoxic to us but kills everything else you don’t want, including fungus, insects etc.

patricia allison
patricia allison
5 years ago
Reply to  JA

can’t you just wash the kale off. it’s flour it seems it would just wash off

Sharon Quarrington
Sharon Quarrington
4 years ago

If you are Celiac you cannot have any gluten IN THE HOUSE – because even when your counters are washed its still there. Truly Gulten free means different bowls, different knives, different counters, different plates – washing is NOT emough. My daughter has been sick for days because of a crumb – one stupid crumb.

Please – if you don’t live with the condition don’t try advising others

Leslie Best
Leslie Best
5 years ago
Reply to  JA

Use it to dust the plant. washes off be fore you use it. Still gluten free.

Donna
Donna
6 years ago
Reply to  Nancy Hebert

Wow, thanks!!

Pam Headley
Pam Headley
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Mix a couple of drops of dish liquid with water in a squirt bottle and spray your plants, kills aphids on contact and will not hurt your vegetable plants or flowers. I have been doing this for years with success.

Eric Claeyborn
Eric Claeyborn
4 years ago
Reply to  Pam Headley

My wife knew a lady that allowed her washing machine’s soapy water to drain into her vegetable garden. She said, the lady’s vegetables were much larger than normal size.

Pam Headley
Pam Headley
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Add a couple of drops of dish liquid to a squirt bottle full of water and shake. Spray your veggie and flower plants making sure to get on the back side of leaves also. This mixture kills aphids on contact and does not hurt your plants. I have done this for years with great success. Avoid doing this during the heat of the day.

Joyce
Joyce
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Try frequently spraying them with soap and water. T

Sydney Baxter
Sydney Baxter
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Diatomaceous earth helps with aphids and just about every other kind of bug, totally non toxic-make sure to get food grade,not the stuff for pool filters. Also helps re-mineralize soil.

My trick for crawly bugs–we get japanese beetles and stinkbugs a lot–is the vacuum cleaner. Just get the extension cord and go suck ’em up. Yes, the neighbors thinks I’m nuts, but they thought that anyway.

Tracy McCarthy
Tracy McCarthy
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Neem oil works great to get rid of aphids. It is also organic.

Mark Smith
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Get some NEEM oil. It’s totally organic and not harmful to humans or other mammals. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/neemgen.html

Michelle
Michelle
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Make a tea out of tobacco or green walnut husk and spray on your plants every couple days and after it rains…ive had great success with both they keep everything but bees away

Jessie O
Jessie O
5 years ago
Reply to  Michelle

I feel like I saw a Simpsons episode like this… LOL are you growing tomacco?

Cathy T
Cathy T
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

I like planting basil with my kale.. from Michigan, never had a problem with nastirums or kale; zuchinni is my issue if I plant from seed I have better luck than from starter plants.

Jessica Terrington
Jessica Terrington
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

I found that cutting up browning banana peel and putting it under my plants seems to deter aphids!

Dianne mcardle
Dianne mcardle
4 years ago

Coffee grounds are a winner too

Kay
Kay
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

It’s good to have a trap crop for aphids, to keep them off other plants. When they get full carefully put a plastic bag around plant and pull it out of ground, while keeping all the bugs in. Tie it tight and put in trash can, never in compost. Kale is a great trap crop too.

5 Solas Farm
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Diatomaceous earth works very well on any and all brassicas in my experience. I water the leaves…the only time I do…and sprinkle diatomaceous earth ont he leaves. I try to get as little as possible on the soil.

Dawn H
Dawn H
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Mint enhances growth and health and discourages aphids, ants, flea beetles.

Shearon
Shearon
5 years ago
Reply to  Dawn H

False. Mint does *not* deter ants. We have a bed on the south side of our bed, roughly 2’x15′. Filled with nothing but mint and ants.

Shearon
Shearon
5 years ago
Reply to  Shearon

**Edit** South side of our house lol!

Sam
Sam
6 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

This works on my strawberry plants and nasturtium, two cups of fresh mint chopped, two whole heads of garlic pealed and chopped, two table spoons of chilli powder, blend and bring to boil in 2 litres of water. Then leave mix over night to stand, ( if you can cook and leave out doors to stand because it will also smell out the house!), Drain out the bits and put the liquid in a spray bottle. Stroke the leaves to one side and try to spray the bottom of the leaves!

PAUL
PAUL
5 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

In my humble opinion, I’d plant them on the other side of the Garden, then plant Marigolds amongst them. Only water the roots, keep air flow between the leaves.

Sandra
Sandra
5 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Nasturtiums are detractors which draw aphids away from your other plants. Once covered in aphids you put a bag over them and pull up the plant to burn- aphids and all

Sharon
Sharon
5 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

If the plant is over- fertilized, it can attract aphids. Nasturtiums don’t need fertilizer.

Jesse Pollock
Jesse Pollock
4 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

Soapy water. Cover entire plants. You can buy store bought or make your own. Just make sure the soap is environmentally friendly.

Kathy
Kathy
4 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson

I believe cat mint will help keep aphids away.

Jacqueline L Laraway
Jacqueline L Laraway
3 years ago
Reply to  Leslie Johnson
Edith Thornburg
Edith Thornburg
6 years ago

I am trying to get a good view of the image that brought me here. It has Sweet corn in the top left corner and potatoes just to the right, in the top middle… Anyway, where can I see this image? I would love to print it out!

CC
CC
6 years ago

Neem oil spray is approved for organic gardening and kills aphids.
Mix it with rainwater and use it promptly
Because it loses effectiveness as it ages

barbara potter
barbara potter
6 years ago

what can you plant corn with and squash ??

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  barbara potter

Beans! The 3 sisters!

Margaret Kyttle
6 years ago
Reply to  barbara potter

My Grandma would plant corn,squash & peas together. The pea vines climb the corn stalks & the squash provides ground cover for the peas & corn. Squash helps to retain moisture for all three.

Alvin Pittman
Alvin Pittman
6 years ago

Never had any problems growing tomatoes close to cucumbers or watermelons, Of course cucumbers and melons need to be fairly far apart from anything including their selves.

Alvin Pittman
Alvin Pittman
6 years ago

Never had any problems growing tomatoes close to cucumbers or watermelons, Of course cucumbers and melons need to be fairly far apart from anything including each other.

Wanda
Wanda
4 years ago
Reply to  Alvin Pittman

Can anyone tell me what to do about brown spots on tomatoes

Catherine Bleish
Admin
4 years ago
Reply to  Wanda

Did they get cold?

angi bloom
6 years ago

Doterra Peppermint oil diluted in water and then sprayed on the leaves helps eliminate many bugs. If you want more info contact me angiyogabloom@gmail.com or info@yogabloom.ca

Catherine Bleish
Admin
6 years ago
Reply to  angi bloom

We offer doTERRA essential oils here on the homestead guru!http://thehomestead.guru/essential-oils/

Daniel
Daniel
6 years ago
Reply to  angi bloom

That is by far the most expensive remedy to very common and easily managed problem.

trackback

[…] Doesn’t seem like there’s any science behind this (at least not in the article), but certain plants might not living next to each other due to allelopathy.  Let me know if you have a more sciencey article with these ideas: https://thehomestead.guru/companion-planting-2/?utm_campaign=coschedule […]

Judy
Judy
6 years ago

The headline/hook of the article is that tomatoes are not companion plants to cucumbers because they are part of the cucurbit family, yet cucumbers are not in the “foe” column adjacent to tomatoes. Additionally, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, corn, and kale are not cucurbitae either.

Lindsey
Lindsey
6 years ago
Reply to  Judy

Yes, I too was wondering why tomatoes and cucumber weren’t listed in each other’s “foe” category. Would the author of the article please address this?

Dawn Bauer
6 years ago

I had a problem with gnats in the soil of the plants that I had bought from the store. I didn’t want to throw them out because they were beautiful. I tried everything to cure the problem, and ended up throwing out even my beautiful houseplants that I had raised for years. Does anyone know how to definitely get rid of gnats in the soil.

Molly
Molly
6 years ago
Reply to  Dawn Bauer

Use hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and water. The peroxide is actually good for the soul and the soap suffocates the bugs.

Sharon C
Sharon C
6 years ago
Reply to  Molly

How much h2o2 to water and dish soap please! Thanks

Carri
Carri
6 years ago
Reply to  Dawn Bauer

I get yellow sticky cards to catch the gnats, and mosquito bits to kill the larvae in the soil. Neither are harmful to the plants, pets or children.

Nick A
Nick A
6 years ago

Garlic grown around the roots of roses will deter greenfly

Julius Mwenda
Julius Mwenda
6 years ago

How do l control white flies in tomatoes effectively?

Hajes
Hajes
6 years ago

some sort of Inka’s Milpa?

Smallspacebigplans
Smallspacebigplans
6 years ago

I have a terrible problem with moles (or voles). They destroy everything I plant from the roots up. I also have issues with squirrels. Help!

Jewell
Jewell
6 years ago

Holey Moley… Is an OMRI certified mole repellant.

Marg Nichols
Marg Nichols
6 years ago

If you put a bird feeder away from your garden they’ll probably go for that instead.

Jo
Jo
6 years ago

spread coffee grounds around your yard, it doesn’t kill the moles but they will relocate

Deb Smith
Deb Smith
5 years ago

thorny rose trimmings in the vole holes sends them packing.

Frode Haugsgjerd
Frode Haugsgjerd
6 years ago

Smallspacebigplans: Get a cat, they kill everything. But don’t feed birds where the cat can get to them, as they are good helpers in the garden.

trackback

[…] can grow alongside each other. You can also read the Old Farmer’s Almanac to get more information!Sources(function() { var referer="";try{if(referer=document.referrer,"undefined"==typeof […]

tommyboy
tommyboy
6 years ago

Some people like their cucumbers pickled

tommyboy
tommyboy
6 years ago

How do I get rid of the white flakes that seem to fall on my shoulders? Help!

Kenny
Kenny
6 years ago

The statement that tomatoes don’t like cucumbers is contradictory to the list given at the end of the article. No where in the list of companion plants does it state that either are a foe of the other. I’m going to try it this summer and see what kind of results I get.

Loretta Mazzola
Loretta Mazzola
6 years ago

My biggest problems in the garden seem to be squash bugs and Japanese beetles. Is there any way to get rid of squash bugs besides going out and picking them off every day? And the Japanese beetles overrun the garden and decimate the leaves of my plants before they disappear for the season. Any suggestions?

EcoStewards
EcoStewards
6 years ago

Sow radish seeds around your squash and pumpkin seedlings when you plant them and you shouldn’t have any more problems with squash bugs.

trackback

[…] even more than you think you’ll need. Things like tomatoes and peppers can be preserved by canning or pickling. Extra greens, potatoes, and beets can be […]

Cheryl Fontaine
Cheryl Fontaine
6 years ago

Companion planting is a great idea. What I like to do also is NOT plant the same thing in a long row, I consider that an invitation to beasties so my garden isn’t neat and orderly, but it sure is beautiful. Have been organic gardening since I was ten years old, that’s 62 years. Still love it!

Ken
Ken
6 years ago

Interesting, tomatoes hate cucumbers? I have always grown them together with no issues. This year most people in the area had a poor tomato season, I on the other hand had a bumper crop. The tomatoes are finished now however the cucumbers are still producing with the second of 2 planted just getting started (strategically positioned to slow growth). I have never fully paid attention to these so called facts as quite often the reverse seems to occur i.e. no success starting companion plantings. I have tried planting basil near tomatoes and sure they grow but a bit lacklustre. I… Read more »

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[…] Homestead guru: Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting […]

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[…] asparagus can be planted under trees, tucked between herbs, and so on. We definitely encourage companion planting in the garden AND the general landscape whenever […]

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[…] Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: the Secrets of Companion Planting […]

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[…] The secrets of companion planting […]

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[…] called companion planting, and it’s been around since the dawn of food cultivation. read more at https://thehomestead.guru/companion-planting-2/ summary via R3publicans   Posted in OKG Projects, OKGrassroots Tagged Coddingtons Corner, […]

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[…] companion planting, and it’s been around since the dawn of food cultivation. read more at https://thehomestead.guru/companion-planting-2/ summary via R3publicans Posted in Coddingtons Corner, Network, OKGrassroots, Oklahoma, […]

Christina
6 years ago

As for an safer way to get rid of pests, my remedies that have worked really well are: lots of marigolds and nasturtiums planted with all my veggies, I plant onions among my tomatoes and peppers, and I spray with a mixture of water, a little bit of soap and red chile sauce. I do also handle my plants pretty often to check for critters (especially tomatoes when I am tying them up and clipping suckers.)

Endress
Endress
6 years ago

I was thinking of planting Goumi with Pawpaw. Arguments against please.

PAUL
PAUL
5 years ago

In my humble opinion, I’d plant them on the other side of the Garden, then plant Marigolds amongst them. Only water the roots, keep air flow between the leaves.

Shirley McAllister
Shirley McAllister
5 years ago

I’ve been reading this list. I have a rose garden and a vegetable garden. I mix a bottle of tabasco with water and spray it in both for bugs. The bugs die and the plants do not. This works especially well for potato bugs. Dawn dish soap and water works for aphids and I have a lot of them in my rose garden. I have asthma so have to watch what I use..cannot use chemicals. I wear a mask when I spray tobasco it can be strong.

Rob
Rob
5 years ago

Keep the marigolds in pots. Never plant the marigolds in the ground with the edible plants. They will make the food taste like marigolds.

Kim
Kim
5 years ago

Can you clarify your radish lists. It shows beans are a foe and your bean list says radishes are friend.

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[…] More from the Guru: Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations […]

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[…] tomatoes coming out of your ears, yet?   Personally, I (Elizabeth) like to slice them like apples […]

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[…] frost date is something that most gardeners view with apprehension, especially when there are green tomatoes on the […]

Christa
5 years ago

Well, crap. I’ve been putting my tomatoes and cucumbers together all these years. I need to do some better planning.

Bee Farm
3 years ago
Reply to  Christa

Yes! growing tomatoes are easy. However with out any plan, it will be massy.

AJD
AJD
5 years ago

So the article is called “Tomatoes hate Cucumbers” – they aren’t on each others foe lists…?

Ashley Snider
Ashley Snider
5 years ago

Mix 50/50 cinnamon and cayenne pepper and toss it around all plants borders and even safe for on plants. Zero pesticide zero insect pests 🙂

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[…] More from the Homestead Guru: Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secret to Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations […]

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[…] Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations • Homestead Guru — Read on thehomestead.guru/companion-planting-2/ […]

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[…] More from the Homestead Guru: Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations […]

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[…] READ MORE FROM THE ORIGINAL STORY AT https://thehomestead.guru/companion-planting-2/?fbclid=IwAR05qOCv3BBuE4sa2BKzQaepcBMDtBzOaEaYUUezr8J… […]

Dean Cain
Dean Cain
4 years ago

Tomatoes and cucumbers being foes isn’t listed in the chart but it’s the title of the article…??

Rae
Rae
4 years ago

Any suggestions for Japanese beetles? They destroy my flower garden every year😡 I hate them!

Andrra
Andrra
4 years ago

The idea behind growing then alongside food is that they attract aphids, and so detracting them from eating food crops. I get aphids on mine too, so i plant them in a few different places. Usually a planter of them will go unaffected, then I use those for salads etc.

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[…] More from the Homestead Guru:Tomatoes Hate Cucumbers: Secrets of Companion Planting + Popular Planting Combinations(Opens in a ne… […]