The Fast-Growing Companion That Gives Tomatoes A Boost While Blocking Out Weeds

Tomatoes are easy enough to grow in a vacuum, but external factors like weeds can slow down their development and make it harder to get a homegrown, juicy fruit on your plate. Luckily, you can naturally give tomatoes a boost with a companion plant. Like other flora, tomatoes benefit from being planted next to something that will improve their growing conditions, such as a plant that will deter insects or encourage pollination. This method can be extremely effective as long as you avoid the common companion planting mistakes. There are many companion plants for tomatoes, like asparagus, radishes, and rosemary, but if you need something that will specifically target weeds, consider accompanying your tomato plant with crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum).

Crimson clover can cover entire fields and therefore works excellently as a ground cover. Along with being an eye-catching way to fill out garden plots or containers, the clover's thick growing pattern makes it difficult for weeds to establish themselves. Plus, crimson clover can grow very quickly, so you won't have to wait long for it to start improving nearby tomato plants.

The ways crimson clover can help a tomato plant don't end at weed suppression. With its fiery red flowers, it can attract tons of pollinators, which will help every plant in the garden. And if that's not enough, crimson clover imbues the soil with nitrogen it draws from the air, further helping any neighboring plants grow. With some crimson clover seeds in hand, you'll just need a few handy growing hacks for your tomatoes to flourish.

Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10, crimson clover should be planted in well-draining soil, though it's not picky about soil quality. It can grow in sun or shade; in fact, one of its many strengths is its ability to thrive in the shade, which makes it well-suited for placement under taller plants. While crimson clover is not tolerant of extreme temperatures, it can withstand some cold.

Unfortunately for some tomato growers, crimson clover is listed as invasive in West Virginia. But for everyone else, there's little reason not to try this powerful companion plant, especially if your tomatoes are losing the battle with weeds. Crimson clover can even be cultivated in a container, so you can grow it and tomatoes without a backyard.