Basil and Tomatoes
by John Yazo
Basil is a favorite herb to many gardeners along with being most often used as a companion plant for tomatoes. It can assist in keeping pests away from vegetables like asparagus, eggplant, and potatoes. Basil can be used to deter pests such as the asparagus beetle, mosquitoes and flies by planting it around your patio or keeping it in pots near sitting areas.
One good reason that planting basil and tomatoes together is for the convenience. Both of these plants have very similar growth requirements. Some care is needed when planting these to plants together. You should plant basil about 3 feet away from your tomatoes and on the south side of the tomato plants. This is so the tomato plants wont shade the basil and restrict air flow around the plant.
Planting basil is also a great way to attract beneficial predators to you garden. Attracting butterflies and beneficial wasps to your garden is a natural method of pest control. The beneficial wasps go after a large variety or types of pests and their larvae that can harm your garden..
There are other reasons that tomatoes are a good choice to plant together. They both thrive in the same soil conditions, benefit from the same nutrients and their complementary flavors make close proximity with each other a convenience at harvesting time.
Companion planting is a method of gardening that is both fun and educational. It is a great way to get involved with gardening and natures natural methods of pest control, along with watching how plants can grow in harmony with each other.
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