Growing Basil with Tomatoes

[veggiechicken]

Does anyone grow Basil alongside their tomatoes?
I've read that they make good companions and that the basil may deter pests. Normally, I grow Tagetes, but you can't eat those, so I'm wondering about sowing basil instead.
Just curious if anyone has tried it and whether they'd do it again. I should add that I'm hopeless at growing basil.

[SarrissUK]

I have tried it before, but not as close as them being in the same pot. However, since I'm growing in bigger bags now (bags for life), I am planning to have tagetes/marigolds in with some of them and sow basil direct in with others. I might do a proper experiment as use basil on one side and tagetes on the other, both at home and on the allotment.

[Jay-ell]

. Normally, I grow Tagetes, but you can't eat those

Tagetes Minuta (aka Peruvian Black Mint aka Mexican Marigold) is edible.

No I haven't tried companion planting with basil - got some in trays might plant some out later.

But then again I also have tagetes minuta in the propagator.

[ameno]

I have it on good authority that the basil really suffers for it.
Basil can't cope with the quantity of water you would be giving to the tomatoes, and it also doesn't like the shade that the tomato leaves would cast.

[Snoop Puss]

I grow toms outdoors in the ground, about 50 cm apart, with basil in between. No idea if it makes a difference to pests as I've never tried growing toms without basil. I've not noticed that the basil suffers in the way ameno suggests. But, yes, maybe the growing conditions are different and possibly I am a bit more parsimonious with the water on the basil than the toms.

Will you be growing in a greenhouse or outdoors, VC?

[Babru]

Just looked up tagetes minuta.

According to Sarah Raven "Tagetes minuta (Mexican marigold) is an extraordinary plant that isn't a looker but its roots kill perennial weeds such as Ground Elder and Couch Grass. It really knocked back a bed of bindweed at Perch Hill. Give it a try."

Really! How on earth does it do that? Anyone tried this?

[Scarlet]

Works well for me....just choose a bigger tomato plant than I have here.
I always grow basil and tomato - ignore the Mexican tree spinach it haunts me that plant but I like it in salad young so it's there for picking


Believe it or not but that tomato plant several toms on it...the basil is huge. Not picked any from that one yet.

[Babru]

Just looked up tagetes minuta.

According to Sarah Raven "Tagetes minuta (Mexican marigold) is an extraordinary plant that isn't a looker but its roots kill perennial weeds such as Ground Elder and Couch Grass. It really knocked back a bed of bindweed at Perch Hill. Give it a try."

Really! How on earth does it do that? Anyone tried this?

To answer my own question, I see there's a previous thread (naturally!)

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...uta_77111.html

[roitelet]

Always grow Basil with the Toms in the tunnel. The Basil does amazingly well.

[Bren In Pots]

I usually grow Tagetes as well as basil along with my toms but this year my Basil all died, don't know what happened to it. I ought to pick up a supermarket plant and turn that into more plants.

[Small pumpkin]

Like Roitelet I grow Basil with my tomatoes in the tunnel and it does brilliantly.
I'm a massive basil fan even more than mint

[greenishfing]

I always grow Basil in the greenhouse border with the tomatoes. I have some growing now which will go to seed before the end of Summer so I will replace it later in the year. The Basil usually does very well and I make lots of pesto which I freeze in ice cube trays.

[fluffybunnyuk]

I grow an italian/mexican food area with toms,cilantro,basil,peppers. Works ok for me. I open the tomato sacks up slightly, imbed plastic plumbing tubes vertically like the sort under your sink about 6 inch segments, fill with earth so that theyre raised up slightly, so the water runs down the soil packed tube where the herbs grow into the toms bag. Twofer watering.

[annie8]

Don’t know why I am so bad at growing basil. I had hoped to put it in the outside bed with my tomatoes but have only managed a few fairly pathetic specimens this year. Probably just as well I bought 50 leeks yesterday and have no space for them all so some will be going in with the tomatoes. Alliums are means to be ok companions plants for tomatoes so just as well

[veggiechicken]

Thanks everyone for your advice.
I've scattered 2 packets of Franchi basil seeds on the GH beds that the ring culture tomato pots rest on. I water into the pots and its runs through ito the surrounding soil so doesn't get too wet. Looks like this - makes more sense than my description!



One GH has Violet basil, the other Neapolitan as a little trial to see which works better.