10 Places to Never Plant Tomatoes, According to Experts

Tomatoes are a rewarding addition to the summer garden, filling it with delicious fruits all season long. While tomatoes are relatively low-maintenance and will remain prolific without much work on your end, the key to a successful harvest is knowing where to plant them. When grown in the wrong location, tomatoes may experience stunted growth, pests, fungal diseases, and limited fruiting. To ensure these plants stay healthy and abundant, we spoke to gardening experts who shared several areas where tomatoes should never be planted. 

Low-Lying Areas

Don't plant tomatoes in areas of your garden where water pools or takes a long time to drain. "Low-lying areas of the garden that hold too much water can cause a range of issues, including disease and root rot," says Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University.

Low Light Locations

Tomatoes need six to eight hours of sunlight daily to stay healthy and prolific, so avoid planting in low-light locations. Tomatoes thrive in full sun, and areas of the garden that have too much shade will result in slower, leggy growth and less fruit, says Abdi.

Where They Were Planted Last Year

Crop rotation is essential for the health of your tomato plants. Growing plants in the same location every year encourages disease and pest buildup, leaving your tomatoes susceptible to verticillium wilt, early blight, and more, says Ankit K Singh, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

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Crowded Spots

Airflow is essential for healthy tomato plants, so space them accordingly and keep them away from areas where other plants are already growing. "Poor airflow can lead to disease issues if the air is stagnant. Below ground, tomato plants that are too densely planted will compete for limited resources (nutrients and water) and may perform poorly," says Abdi. 

Too-Small Beds and Containers

Similarly, planting tomatoes in too-small garden beds and cramped containers poses airflow issues. "Depending on the variety of tomato, your container size may vary. Too small a container can limit plant growth and productivity," says Abdi. Singh adds that growing tomatoes in tight spaces can cause disease and reduce yields.

Close to Buildings

Keep tomatoes away from buildings, as they can block sunlight, reflect too much heat, or shed water runoff, says Singh. Tomatoes grown too close to buildings may experience sun stress, poor growth, or waterlogged roots if runoff pools nearby.

In Poor Soils

Sandy soils drain too fast and lack nutrients unless they're heavily amended, says Singh. Growing tomatoes in sandy soil may result in nutrient deficiencies, water stress, and poor fruit development. On the other hand, compacted soil isn't ideal for tomatoes either. "Compacted soils have poor drainage, and growth may suffer as roots struggle to spread," says Abdi.

Pest-Prone Areas

Areas near compost piles, old crop debris, and weeds harbor pests, which can be detrimental to your tomato crops. Growing plants in these areas may expose these fruits to aphids, tomato hornworms, whiteflies, and disease, Singh says.

Where Water Access Is Limited

Tomatoes need adequate water, especially during the fruiting season. Planting them in an area where they don't have access to rainwater or are far away from a hose can lead to inconsistent watering, potentially causing blossom-end rot and cracked fruits, says Singh.

Under Trees

Planting tomatoes under trees blocks the sun from reaching the plants and exposes fruits to bird droppings, leading to poor fruiting, increased pests, or physical damage, says Singh. He also warns against growing tomatoes too close to black walnut trees because they release juglone, which is toxic to tomatoes and leads to plant death.