Companion Plants Top 10 Best

top ten companion plants

Some plants do better when in the company of other plants for a variety of reasons…to repel harmful insects, to attract useful insects, or to enhance the growth rate and flavor of other plants. Companion planting helps bring a balanced eco-system to your garden. Every garden is different with different problems. All problems will not be eliminated, but it is definitely worth experimenting with companion planting. Below are the top 10 plant companion combinations.

Blossom End Rot

Tomatoes grown in containers and indeterminate (vining) heirloom tomatoes can be more susceptible to Blossom End Rot (BER) that is caused by an inability to adequately uptake calcium from the soil. This condition is more likely caused by fluctuating moisture levels rather than a deficiency of calcium in the soil. But, it can also be …

Read more

Tomato Diseases

Fusarium Wilt: Over winters in the soil. Lower leaves turn yellow, wilt and drop off. Blight (Late): A disease that strikes tomatoes and potatoes, can quickly ruin an entire crop — and provide a source of infection for other plants. It is critical that gardeners understand that late blight is not like other tomato and …

Read more

Tomatoes – Pests and Disease

aphids are tomato pests

Although tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, there can be problems with a variety of tomato pests and disease. The most common tomato pests and disease Aphids – I wouldn’t use pesticides when there is such an easy way to kill them. An organic way of dealing with them is to spray with soapy water. …

Read more

How to Choose Tomato Plants

how to choose a tomato plant

Zeroing in on the Tastiest Varieties From North to South, and coast to coast, tomatoes are consistently the most popular vegetable in American gardens. But for most gardeners, just any old tomato won’t do. How do you choose tomato plants? Some like them red, some like them yellow, orange or even purple! Some prefer tomatoes …

Read more

Starting Tomatoes from Seed

starting tomatoes from seed

There are many advantages seed planting your own tomatoes Starting tomatoes from seed is a very rewarding experience. Watching them grow from a tiny (and tomato seed ARE tiny!) seed into a towering plant full of the most delicious taste experience ever is tremendously fun! It may have a few days of hard work involved, …

Read more

Cutting Tomato Horn Worm Damage

tomato hornworm

Ever wake up one morning to this? One day your tomatoes are looking better than you’ve ever seen them and WHAMMO! Without warning, without notice, they are decimated overnight. The first clue beside the obvious disappearance of leaves is little black “droppings” that look like mice turds on your tomato leaves or on the ground …

Read more

Heirloom Tomatoes and Disease Resistance

tomatoes on cutting board

Unlike hybrid tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes have not been tested and bred for disease resistance. For this reason, they may or may not have some natural resistance to various diseases. However, it is beneficial to remember that these unique varieties would not have been saved if they were not both productive and tasty. You can give …

Read more