Why You Should Plant Tomatoes And Zucchini Together In The Garden

Just like special people do for us, plants often have companions that bring out the best in them. Pairing up different plants with the right characteristics can save space, provide shade or support, and enhance soil conditions for each other. Companion planting provides a healthy handful of benefits to your garden. Tomato and zucchini plants have qualities that help the other out, from pollination to soil quality and more.

While both zucchini and tomatoes have deep roots, their underground structures are different enough to complement each other. A majority of tomato roots live in the upper 12 to 18 inches of soil, but encouraging their roots to dig deeper can greatly improve a tomato plant's health and performance. Zucchini plants rely on a deep-reaching tap root that is stellar at breaking up and enhancing the soil, helping with drainage and aeration.

But that's not the only boost tomatoes get from zucchini. The visiting pollinators end up cross pollinating the two different plants, and that can lead to higher production. Plus, zucchini plants' voluminous leaves shade the soil from the drying effects of the sun. This function helps both plants maintain moisture. However, you'll want to keep an eye on the zucchini's leaf growth so that it doesn't crowd out your tomatoes.

Tomato and zucchini plants have a few differences to keep in mind, so it's important not to treat them to exactly the same care just because they share a space. When you're setting up your plot, the first order of business is the right placing and spacing. Find a spot that gets at least 8 hours of full sun per day. Since both zucchini and tomato plants tend to grow quite large, allow 2 to 3 feet between each plant.

Both of these plants can be big producers, and in order to do this, they sap lots of nutrients from the soil. Feed them with a balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium every few weeks. The two plants' nutrient needs are particular enough that they shouldn't compete too much with each other as long as the soil is sufficiently fertile. Also, both plants have slightly different watering requirements. Tomatoes will need regular watering with about 1 or 1 ½ inch of moisture per week or more for larger plants. Zucchini can get away with water once every week or two; check the soil moisture before watering to make sure it's necessary. The top 2 inches of the soil should be dry before giving them a long drink.

Air flow is also crucial for both of these plants, and too much foliage can prevent this. Take up your pruning shears regularly to make sure that each plant has some breathing space. Check out this advice on how to prune tomatoes and how growing zucchini vertically can improve air circulation for both plants.