You might want to grow potatoes and tomatoes together as companion plants. Before you start a vegetable garden, you should make a list of what you want to grow and where you want to grow it. That’s because the plants you place side by side can influence each other’s growth, either positively or negatively. You don’t want to start the season off badly by putting two plants next to each other that will hurt their growth.
These are two of the most popular plants to grow, especially for beginners. This is likely due to their popularity in the kitchen. But it’s also because they are relatively easy plants to care for, with the right knowledge.
You might want to put these plants together, but how will their growth affect each other? Let’s find out.
The short answer is that potatoes and tomatoes are closely related. They are from the same family, and should not be planted next to each other. If you plant them next to each other, they will fight over nutrients, which will hurt the crop yield. They can also attract similar pests. Part of the point of planting plants next to each other is to keep pests away, but this pair won’t do that.
Growing juicy tomatoes and hearty potatoes are two of the biggest joys of having a productive vegetable garden, But can these crops coexist in harmony when planted in close proximity? Or should tomato plants and potatoes be kept at arm’s length from one another?
In this article, we’ll explore the age-old gardening question: How far away should you plant tomatoes from potatoes? Read on for a full breakdown of the science and best practices behind spacing these popular veggies.
Why Tomato and Potato Pairing Is Controversial
At first glance, tomatoes and potatoes seem like ideal companion plants. They thrive in similar soil conditions, both benefit from consistent moisture, and neither crop is prone to rampant spreading or aggressive root structures.
However, some experienced gardeners strongly advise against planting tomatoes and potatoes in close range. Why is that?
The main reason boils down to disease prevention. Tomatoes and potatoes are both prone to early blight late blight, verticillium wilt and other destructive fungal diseases. Planting them in close proximity significantly increases the chances of those soil-borne pathogens spreading from one crop to the other.
Once blight takes hold, it can rapidly decimate an entire tomato or potato patch. So maintaining adequate distance between planting areas can serve as an important disease prevention technique.
What’s the Recommended Minimum Distance?
Most experts recommend separating tomatoes and potatoes by at least 10 feet (3 m). This gives each crop ample space and reduces the likelihood of shared diseases.
However, some avid gardeners suggest an even wider buffer zone of 20-25 feet (6-8 m) between tomato plants and potatoes. This very generous spacing virtually eliminates the risk of blights traveling back and forth between the two crops.
When dealing with raised beds or smaller gardens, aim for 10 feet of separation if possible. More is better, but 10 feet is suitable in many home contexts.
Other Tips for Growing Tomato Plants Near Potatoes
In addition to spacing tomatoes and potatoes at least 10 feet apart, here are some other tips for safely and successfully growing these veggies in proximity:
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Practice crop rotation from year to year. Don’t plant either crop in the same bed two years in a row. This helps prevent soil diseases from building up over time.
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Remove and destroy any tomato or potato plants immediately if they show signs of blight. Don’t put diseased plants in the compost pile.
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Water at the base of plants rather than overhead. This prevents moisture on leaves which can spread blights.
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Allow foliage to dry completely before watering. Excess moisture on leaves propagates disease.
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Stake tomatoes and hill potatoes well to improve air circulation around plants. Good airflow is key to preventing fungal and bacterial diseases.
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Test soil pH annually and amend as needed. Tomatoes prefer slightly acidic soil, while potatoes grow best in slightly alkaline conditions.
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Monitor for pests like potato beetles, tomato hornworms, etc. Control them organically via handpicking, traps, or biological insecticides.
Companion Planting: Beneficial Friends for Tomatoes and Potatoes
While tomatoes and potatoes shouldn’t be planted too close together, both benefit from other thoughtfully selected companion plants. Here are some worthy botanical buddies to consider:
Good companions for tomatoes:
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Carrots
- Chives
- Marigolds
- Onions/garlic
- Parsley/cilantro
- Peppers
- Petunias
Helpful friends for potatoes:
- Beans
- Cabbage family crops
- Corn
- Eggplant
- Flax
- Marigolds
- Peas
These plants make friendly neighbors for tomatoes or potatoes. They help repel pests, improve flavor, enhance pollination, and offer other useful perks.
Just be sure to keep enough distance between tomato plants and potatoes, even if other companion plants are placed in between.
Tips for Crop Rotation With Tomatoes and Potatoes
Crop rotation is a fundamental technique for any garden containing both tomatoes and potatoes.
Here is an example 3-year rotation schedule that properly alternates these crops:
Year 1
- Bed 1: Tomatoes
- Bed 2: Potatoes
- Bed 3: Cover crop or unrelated vegetable
Year 2
- Bed 1: Cover crop or unrelated vegetable
- Bed 2: Tomatoes
- Bed 3: Potatoes
Year 3
- Bed 1: Potatoes
- Bed 2: Cover crop or unrelated vegetable
- Bed 3: Tomatoes
This sequence prevents tomatoes or potatoes from occupying the same soil two years consecutively. Other vegetables like peppers, onions, beans, etc can be rotated through as well.
Be sure to rotate all tomato and potato varieties – including heirlooms, hybrids, cherry tomatoes, fingerlings, etc. Rotating specific cultivars is ineffective since blights readily spread between types.
Container Growing as an Alternative Option
Growing tomatoes or potatoes in containers is an excellent way to reap the benefits of both crops while eliminating distance concerns.
With tomatoes and potatoes each planted in separate pots, they can be located right next to each other with no risk of transmitting diseases back and forth. Just be diligent about pruning, stake spacing, watering, and other cultural practices to keep container plants as healthy as possible.
Choose large, food-safe containers with drainage holes. Use a high-quality potting mix and provide even moisture. Solarize soil ahead of time to kill lingering pathogens.
With the right methods, container culture can be a foolproof approach for successfully raising tomatoes and potatoes in close proximity.
Can tomatoes and potatoes coexist in the same garden? Absolutely! With smart spacing, crop rotation, and disease prevention practices, both crops can thrive.
Aim for at least 10 feet of buffer zone between tomato and potato planting areas. Greater distance is even better. Adhere to a strict 3-year (or longer) rotation schedule. Remove diseased plants immediately and be vigilant about cleanliness.
With some care and planning, you can enjoy bountiful harvests of juicy tomatoes AND hearty potatoes from the comfort of your own backyard. Just be sure to give these vulnerable vegetables the space they need from one another.
The Benefits of Companion Planting
There are many purported benefits to companion planting, each applying to different groupings of plants.
The first, and most obvious benefit, is physical. For vegetable types that need a little more shade, like leafy greens, you can plant a tall, trellised plant, like beans, to give them some shade in the afternoon.
This helps both plants grow better because the greens don’t get too hot and the beans get more sun. This is accomplished simply by placing them together and planting them in the right orientation.
Companion planting is most often favored for its effectiveness against pests. Some plants have the ability to suppress or repel certain pests due to the chemicals in their roots. Others release a strong smell that some pests don’t like.
If you plant these plants near vegetables that pests like, they will form a barrier that keeps pests out. And you’ll do it without the use of pesticides.
Trap crops perform a similar task, but rather than repelling the pests, draw them towards the companion plant. This keeps the pests focused on the trap crop and away from the plants you want to harvest. Nasturtium is one of the most common trap crops. It’s loved by aphids, keeping them away from the other vegetables in your garden.
Another companion planting benefit can be found in the soil. Plants change the amount of nutrients in the soil either by taking up more of some nutrients and leaving others behind or by adding nutrients back to the soil (in the case of nitrogen-fixers). Good companion plants don’t compete or harm each other. They work well together with regards to nutrients, maintaining good soil health.
There is an opposite to these benefits, though: some plants don’t get along and will stunt the growth of others. Either they both get the same bugs or diseases, which makes it more likely that they will spread, or they both give off chemicals that stop the growth of the other. Bad companions also compete for nutrients or have incompatible growing conditions. These conditions end up resulting in the one plant dying while the other fights to survive.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is a term commonly used in gardening and agricultural circles. Companion planting has been done for hundreds of years, but the term became more popular in the gardening world in the 1970s.
The organic gardening movement prompted gardeners to think about how to optimize plant groupings and spacing to maximize yield. The idea behind the practice was that certain plants could improve each other’s growth when planted together, either due to the growing conditions created or the pest benefits provided.
Today, companion planting is common practice in home gardens. This encompasses grouping plants of similar conditions together, allowing them to share soil, water, and light without competition.
But it also looks at plant pairs that, because of the way they grow or what they’re made of, actually help each other grow by changing the soil, keeping pests away, giving shade, and doing many other useful things.
Tomato Spacing – Garden Quickie Episode 145
FAQ
Is it okay to plant tomatoes next to potatoes?
Can tomatoes and potatoes cross-pollinate?
What is the distance you should plant tomatoes?
How far apart to plant potatoes in a garden?
How far apart should potatoes and tomatoes be planted?
Potatoes and tomatoes are both relatively large plants, so it is important to space them appropriately. The recommended spacing for potatoes is 3 feet apart, and the recommended spacing for tomatoes is 2 feet apart. If you are planting potatoes and tomatoes in the same row, you should space them 4 feet apart. Type of soil
Can you plant a potato next to a tomato?
When harvesting potatoes, you need to pull the tubers out of the ground. Tomatoes have incredibly deep root systems that will undoubtedly be disturbed by your potato harvesting if they are close together. Ultimately, it’s best to keep these two plants far away from each other. It’s not a good idea to companion plant a potato next to tomatoes.
How much space does a tomato plant need?
Even though they need just 2 to 3 feet between plants to grow well, they need the full amount of space. Don’t be tempted to skimp on spacing to squeeze in more plants, or disease will become more prevalent, and fruit production will suffer. 3. Cage or Stake Indeterminate Tomatoes
How do you plant potatoes & tomatoes at the same time?
Plant potatoes and tomatoes at the same time. Space potatoes and tomatoes about 2 feet apart. Fertilize the plants regularly. Water the plants regularly, especially during dry spells. Mulch the plants to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool. Monitor the plants for pests and diseases, and treat them as needed.
