Where I live, I rarely get frost, and I have the bonus of having the protection of a pest cloth over my tomato

If you plant your tomatoes out in the open, an important thing to note is what vegetables you are going to plant next to them.

Now, most gardeners seem to have their own ideas on this subject.

Some have been scientifically proven, others are classed as old wives’/husband’s tales dug up from long ago, and some have been from previous experiences of the gardener.

I will let you decide, but it makes for a robust discussion!

While tomato plants will enjoy having basil, marigolds, lettuce, and chives growing alongside them, some other vegetables are not such great companions.

Bearing in mind, a lot depends on your soil’s health and how much sun, feed, and water it gets.

Brassicas, especially cabbage and broccoli, can stunt the growth of your tomato plant because they fight each other for the nutrients in the ground.

Cabbage and tomato both need a lot of nutrients to thrive, so the weaker of the two usually suffers, and that will most probably be the tomato.

Then, when it comes to pests, you don’t want to plant other vegetables that will attract the same sort of fungal infections and pests.

Corn is something you should avoid, as it grows tall, is heavy and will shade your sun-loving tomatoes.

They both attract the same sort of bugs who will be doubly happy to find they can have both an entrée and a main without leaving home!

Fennel is said to also inhibit the growth of tomatoes, although I have always found it is better to grow this in a little spot on its own.

I love Florence fennel thinly sliced in a salad, and bronze fennel is great in an arrangement.

Tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes are all members of the nightshade family, meaning they need the same nutrients to grow and are susceptible to the same diseases.

These diseases can spread through the soil and ruin all the plants if one is affected.

Also, proximity matters, as tomato roots can be damaged when harvesting your potatoes if they are planted too close.

Something you may not have thought about is your walnut tree.

Do not plant your tomatoes close to an existing tree, as the roots will use up all the nutrients and you will end up with some pretty miserable tomato plants.

So, if you are working out where you are going to plant your favoured crops this coming season, and if any did not produce to your expectations last season, start thinking about where you are going to plant them and with whom may be a good idea.

As I have read in many a gardening book, maybe plant not as a neighbour, but in your neighbourhood!

Happy gardening.

Kem Ormond is a features writer for The Country. She’s also a keen gardener.