10 Herbs to Grow With Tomatoes for Natural Pest Control

Cluster of tomatoes growing on a plant with green leaves — Credit:
Helios4Eos / Getty Images

No matter how hard you try to avoid them, pests in the garden are inevitable. One area where they can be a major nuisance is in your tomato patch. These juicy, fragrant fruits can attract harmful insects, such as aphids, flea beetles, spider mites, and slugs—all organisms that can ruin your harvest. But this doesn't mean you should reach for pesticides to banish these pests. Growing companion plants, especially herbs, is a natural and effective way to keep bad bugs at bay. Ahead, we're sharing the fragrant herbs experts recommend planting next to tomatoes for natural pest control.

Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University and author of Plants Are Speaking. Are You Listening?
Ankit Singh, assistant professor and ornamental horticulture educator at the University of Maine Extension

01 of 10

Parsley

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) can protect tomatoes from aphids and hornworms. "The plant gives off an odor that confuses the predatory insects of tomatoes, thereby creating a protective and invisible barrier," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. This herb also attracts beneficial pollinators like hoverflies, which are predatory insects to many pests.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 8 to 36 inches tall x 8 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; fertile, well-draining soil

02 of 10

Basil

Thanks to its strong scent, basil (Ocimum basilicum) keeps away many pests that are harmful to tomatoes, including aphids, whiteflies, tomato hornworms, and mosquitoes. "Basil emits strong aromatic oils that mask tomato plant scents, deterring pests," says Ankit Singh, assistant professor and ornamental horticulture educator at the University of Maine Extension. "Some studies suggest it can even improve tomato flavor and growth."

Zones: 10 to 11
Size: 4 to 36 inches tall x 4 to 14 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; moist, well-draining soil

03 of 10

Chives

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) repel aphids, spider mites, beetles, carrot leaf miners, and slugs from tomatoes. "The sulfurous compounds in chives create a pungent scent that deters soft-bodied insects like aphids," says Singh.

Zones: 3 to 9
Size: 12 to 18 inches high x 12 to 16 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil rich in organic matter

04 of 10

Mint

Grow mint (Mentha spp.) in containers and place it around your tomato plants to repel aphids, ants, flea beetles, whiteflies, and caterpillars. "Mint contains menthol, and that alone deters pests," says Langelo. "However, the limonene and pulegone in the mint also create a strong scent to deter harmful pests from tomato plants." Make sure to grow it in pots to prevent it from spreading aggressively.

Zones: 3 to 10
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x up to 8 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-draining soil

05 of 10

Borage

Borage (Borago officinalis) contains chemicals that naturally keep hornworms and cabbageworms away from tomato plants. "Borage distracts or confuses pests with its texture and scent and also attracts pollinators and predatory insects like parasitic wasps," says Singh.

Zones: 3 to 10
Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 16 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

06 of 10

Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a fragrant herb that repels cabbage moths, corn earworms, and tomato hornworms. According to Singh, thyme produces essential oils that mask the scent of tomatoes and disrupt insect host-finding behavior.

Zones: 5 to 9
Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 16 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

07 of 10

Cilantro

Common tomato pests, including aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and potato beetles, will stay away from cilantro (Coriandrum sativum). "Cilantro has the substance linalool, which repels insects," says Singh. "This substance creates a unique flavor and scent that protects tomato plants." Langelo adds that cilantro attracts hoverflies, whose larvae feed on aphids.

Zones: 2 to 11
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil

08 of 10

Sage

Sage (Salvia officinalis) contains camphor and 1,8-cineole, two substances that have a strong scent that interferes with the nervous systems of insects and confuses them. This herb's pest-repelling capabilities will prevent aphids, whiteflies, moths, and cabbageworms from bothering your tomatoes.

Zones: 4 to 8
Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 36 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

09 of 10

Dill

Dill (Anethum graveolen) acts as a trap crop, luring harmful pests as well as the predatory insects that feed on them. Plant it in your garden to distract aphids and spider mites from bothering your tomatoes.

Zones: 8 to 10
Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil

10 of 10

Oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has volatile oils that act as a pest deterrent against aphids, spider mites, leafhoppers, and lacewings. According to Langelo, this herb also contains an enzyme that acts as an insecticide, disrupting the nervous system of insects.