July 2, 2025, 3:23 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Tomatoes and basil are not just a great team on the plate; they also complement each other well in the garden. myHOMEBOOK gardening expert Franka Kruse-Gering explains why you should plant tomatoes and basil together.
If you already have some experience growing your own vegetables, you can take the next step and challenge yourself a bit more. The next level is called mixed cultivation, or as it’s now often referred to, “companion planting.” Whether it’s strawberries with garlic or a Milpa bed, some foods pair wonderfully together. Tomatoes and basil should also be planted together.
Why You Should Plant Tomatoes and Basil Together
Tomatoes and basil are more than just good neighbors in the garden—they complement each other naturally. What one plant releases, the other benefits from. Even in the smallest space, a small, balanced ecosystem is created where hardly anything is wasted—the “waste” of one plant becomes an advantage for the other. This kind of mutual support makes a well-thought-out mixed cultivation so valuable.
Basil Keeps Pests Away from Tomatoes
Basil emits essential oils that are unpleasant or even repellent to many insects. The scent of eugenol, the aromatic compound that gives basil its distinctive smell, can deter pests like whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and spider mites. Tomatoes often suffer from these insects, especially in warm, humid weather. When basil grows nearby, it forms a kind of scent shield around the tomatoes. This is no guarantee of complete pest freedom, but it provides noticeable relief.
Basil is especially helpful in greenhouses or on balconies, where air circulation is limited and pests can spread quickly. Here, the aromatic neighbor can really make a difference.
Thanks to Basil, Tomatoes Are Less Prone to Fungal Diseases
Tomatoes are susceptible to fungal diseases, with late blight being particularly feared. This occurs mainly when moisture remains on the leaves and fungal spores can easily multiply in poor air circulation.
Basil remains relatively low at 20 to 40 centimeters and acts like ground cover without disrupting airflow. On the contrary, its loose growth between the tomato stems allows for better air circulation, improving the microclimate in the lower plant area. This is exactly where rot often first appears.
A great side effect: Basil slightly shades the soil, helping to reduce evaporation—the roots stay cooler and don’t dry out as quickly, lowering the stress level of the tomato plants.
Space Can Be Optimally Used When Planting Tomatoes and Basil
Tomatoes are classic column plants, usually growing upward on a main stem, especially when regularly pruned. Basil, on the other hand, grows more bushy and low. This way, the plants don’t hinder each other’s growth. They utilize space both vertically and horizontally.
This is particularly practical when space is limited, such as on a balcony, in a raised bed, or in a large planter. Instead of planting just one tomato plant, you can plant basil around it, effectively using the root zone without the plants competing for light or space.
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Time Savings Through Less Maintenance
When plants protect each other, air can circulate better, and the soil is optimally used, resulting in something very pleasant: less intervention is needed. Less pest infestation means little or no need for pesticides, and less fungal infestation means no elaborate checks or preventive measures are necessary.