9 Pest-Repelling Plants to Grow With Tomatoes for a Healthy and Prolific Crop Protect your tomato plants from hornworms, aphids, fruitworms, and more by planting these deterrents nearby. Close Credit: ZoiaKostina / GETTY IMAGES Growing a vegetable garden is plenty of work on its own without worrying that your efforts will be ruined by hungry pests. One of the crops where this is the biggest concern is tomatoes, which attract various pests, from tomato hornworms to thrips and aphids. One of the most effective—and rewarding—ways to prevent pests from bothering your tomatoes is to plant neighboring crops that act as a buffer or deterrent to keep insects away. Ahead, gardening experts share what companion plants to grow with tomatoes to prevent harmful bugs from infesting your crops. Teri Speight, landscape gardener, garden coach, podcast host, and author of The Urban Garden Christy Wilhelmi of Gardenerd and author of High Yield Small Space Organic Gardening 18 Bug-Repelling Plants That Keep Unwanted Pests Out of Your Garden 01 of 09 Basil Credit: Ewa Saks / Getty Images Many herbs, including basil (Ocimum basilicum), are easy to grow and provide pest-control benefits. "Basil is a deterrent for not just aphids but also spider mites and thrips," says garden coach Teri Speight. Spider mite damage might appear as rippled foliage or yellowing on the leaves. Spider mites often leave behind small white dots or webs, while thrips cause tiny silver flecks and black spots to appear on the leaves. The fruit will be noticeably disfigured or scabbed on the skin if these pests aren't treated properly. Luckily, planting basil can naturally enhance pest control in the garden, says Speight. Zones: Annual, can overwinter in zones 10 to 11Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil 02 of 09 Nasturtium Credit: Getty Images Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an excellent trap crop for aphids. "The aphids will find the stems appealing and gather," says Speight, adding that nasturtiums have a sweet sap in the stems that aphids find tasty. "It is best to plant nasturtiums away from the tomato plants so the aphids will approach them first and minimize tomato plant damage," she says. Zones: 2 to 9Size: 18 inches tall x 24 inches wide.Care requirements: Full sun; sandy, well-drained soil 03 of 09 Sweet Alyssum Credit: Getty Images Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) can be grown as a lovely ground cover, but it also has some pest-control benefits. "If you grow alyssum and let other umbelliferae plants like dill, celery, parsley, and cilantro go to flower, these flower heads attract parasitic wasps and tachinid flies that poke holes in aphids and other insects and lay their young inside them," says gardening expert Christy Wilhelmi. Zones: 5 to 9Size: 12 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil 04 of 09 Marigold Credit: svf74 / Getty Images With their cheerful blooms and low-maintenance demeanor, marigolds (Tagetes) are a favorite among gardeners. They are also a wonderful flower to plant near tomatoes to prevent an infestation of tomato hornworms, which find the scent of marigolds unappealing, says Speight. Zones: 2 to 11 Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil Marigolds Are the Ideal Companion Plant for These 24 Fruits and Vegetables 05 of 09 Chives Credit: Getty Images Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are one of the easiest herbs to grow, and their strong, onion-like fragrance can discourage slugs, spider mites, and aphids from bothering your tomato plants. Plus, if they're left to flower, their blooms add color and whimsy to the garden. Zones: 3 to 10 Mature size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Rich, well-drained soil and full sun 06 of 09 Garlic Credit: Aksana Zavadskaya / Getty Images As with chives, garlic (Allium Sativum) can be used as a natural deterrent for spider mites, which don't like its strong scent. Garlic is hardy and easy to grow, and some bulbs can be set aside and saved each harvest to grow next year's crop. Zones: 3 to 6Size: 36 inches tall x 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil 07 of 09 Dill Credit: Getty Images The fragrance of dill is so pleasant that it's worth growing simply for that reason alone. But dill (Anethum graveolens) is also used as a natural pest deterrent and can discourage aphids and cabbage moths from bothering neighboring tomato plants. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 2 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil 08 of 09 Borage Credit: Getty Images Borage (Borago officinalis) is a lovely herb with delicate, star-shaped blossoms. "Borage is one that I have successfully used to deter the hornworm," says Speight. "It is more than just beautiful, it attracts bees and other beneficial insects into the garden." Zones: 6 to 11Size: 12 to 36 inches tall x 12 to 16 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; airy, well-drained soil 09 of 09 Parsley Credit: Getty Images Growing plants that attract beneficial bugs can help minimize harmful insects from wreaking havoc on your garden. For example, planting parsley (Petroselinum crispum) can attract ladybugs, which prey on aphids and hornworm eggs. Zones: 4 to 9 Size: 8 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist soil Explore more: Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas