companion planting - tomatoes and borlotti beans??

[kathyd]

Hi, I've just planted 6 tomato plants in my polytunnel, and then realised I've put them next to some borlotti beans. I can't find much via google about mixing beans and tomatoes (apart from some tasty recipes ), but the bits I have found haven't been very positive... although sometimes one type of bean is OK but another one isn't!

Is there any reason why I shouldn't plant them close together? The toms are still quite small so it'd be easy enough to move them if necessary.

Thx.

[taff]

shouldn't be a problem, unles they're climbing borlotti and they may try clambering over the toms. Otherwise....I wouldn't worry.

[rustylady]

Why are you planting beans in a tunnel?

[kathyd]

Thx Taff - they ARE climbing borlotti, and are already cuddling up to the climbing mangetout on the other side of them, so if they get cosy with the toms too that should make for a state of complete chaos shouldn't it . Especially as I've been reading the thread about leaving your toms to scramble and not nipping out their elbows.. So I'm looking forward to a madhouse (if we get any sun to help things along of course ).

I really just wondered if either the beans or the toms did something to the soil which might upset the other one. Something I read somewhere seemed to suggest they didn't like each other. But you can get a bit obsessive if you try to follow every bit of advice on every website can't you...

[kathyd]

Why are you planting beans in a tunnel?

Well... partly because I'm not noted for my patience and I wanted to DO something... this is the first year I've had a big garden and a polytunnel so it's fuuunnn! Also because I thought I'd read somewhere that borlottis preferred a bit more warmth, but I may be wrong about that (it was a good excuse at the time though ). And I thought they might crop a bit earlier than outside, so extending the season. And I've got some ready to stick outside too, if the rain ever stops and the sun comes out. But mainly I did it just because I wanted to - it meant I could grub about in the soil in the rain without getting wet .

[zazen999]

Stick a cane next to each one to climb up and they should leave the toms well alone.

[kathyd]

Strangely enough Zazen, I was doing that just this afternoon . Nearly poked holes in the polytunnel roof mind you, I'm not used to having to be careful with canes! Thx

[Mato]

Those are good reasons for planting beans in a tunnel. I like the cane idea. I'd probably end up just letting them climb all over each other and see what happens.

[Sarico]

this is the first time to gyo but a friend from italy told me that he love massy grow and leave the plant natural... he plant 2 plant of tomato together and some beans as well on the same space... when they grow the tomatoes they support each other and the beans keep them together... but as i said he is from italy and the weather is very different to uk....if i have plenty space i will try..

[kathyd]

I tend to like things messy too Sarico - well, 'informal' might be a kinder word, heaven forbid I should be as messy in my garden as I am in the house .