The tomatillo companion plants increase yields while reducing the risk of being attacked by pests and diseases. They include basil, parsley, and peppers to name a few. Not only that, but they also add the variety that your garden needs.

Companion Plants for Your Tomatillo Garden

If you have been struggling to determine the plants that grow well with the tomatillo plants, this article will help you out as it highlights some of the options that you have.

Tomatillo Companion Plants at Your Disposal

Some of the tomatillo companion plants that are at your disposal are peppers, carrots, basil, onions, parsley, marigolds, and peas.

The individual plants have their own benefits but one of the notable fascinating facts is that tomatillo seeds are edible, alongside their fruit. Scout through the list that is presented in this article and identifies the plants that you would like to include when you grow tomatillos.

1. Basil

An Herb with a Rich Flavor

Benefits
  • Block calcium channels, thereby reducing blood pressure
  • Has essential oils that reduce the levels of harmful fat in the human body
  • Can enhance your appetite
Uses
  • Eaten to enhance blood circulation
  • Dried leaves are used as flavor enhancers in various type of meals
  • Used to treat snake and insect bites
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Has square stems
  • Leaves that are rounded, shallowly cupped, and tipped are positioned on opposite sides of the stem
  • Leaf color ranges from light green to reddish or purplish.
Care

The basil is a member of the mint family, which is also known as the Lamiaceae family. This plant has its origins in southern India and Africa.

Did you know that in the Victorian language of flowers, the common basil is associated with hatred while the sweet one symbolizes best wishes? In the Roman empire, the fragrance of basil was believed to stimulate love.

2. Parsley

A Versatile Green Herb Parsley

Benefits
  • Has vitamin K so can be helpful in enhancing bone health
  • Reduces inflammation
  • The tea improves immune function
Uses
  • Can be chewed to do away with bad breath
  • Used as an ingredient for making sauces, meat dishes, vegetables, and salads
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Stem is long and thin
  • Leaves are triangular and toothed
  • Leaves have a bright green color
Care
  • Water when the upper inch of the soil is dry
  • Should be grown in a space that can receive bright sunlight for about six to eight hours
  • Temperatures that are around 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal

The name “parsley” was derived from “petroselinon,” which is a Greek word whose English translation is “rock celery”. This is because this plant can thrive on walls and rocks. Interestingly, parsley is classified under the same family of plants as celery, cumin, and carrots.

Moreover, the first parsley was grown approximately 2,000 years ago in the Mediterranean region.

3. Peppers

A Delicious and Nutritious Vegetable

Benefits
  • Reduce inflammation
  • May enhance the health of your brain
  • May reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood
Uses
  • Used a spice
  • Green chili peppers are tomatillo are used to make salsa verde, which is a sauce in Mexican cuisine
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Exist in many colors一green, white, white, yellow, or black but are produced by the same plant
  • Has a pungent taste
Care
  • About six to eight hours of sunlight exposure are ideal
  • Add one or two inches of water every week
  • Sandy or loamy soils are recommended

Although many people think peppers are vegetables, they are actually fruits because they have seeds and are produced by flowering plants. Peppers get sweeter as they ripen, which is why red peppers are the sweetest. The green pepper has half as much vitamin C as the red ones.

4. Carrots

The Sweet and Crunchy Carrots

Benefits
  • Root is good for enhancing gut health
  • Root promotes better vision
  • Enhances better immunity function
Uses
  • Used for making different dishes, including stews, soups, and salads.
  • Can be used to make a jelly
  • Seeds can be used for adding flavors to foods
Distinguishing characteristics
  • The root should develop into a tuber that is firm and crisp
  • The tubers have different intensities of the orange color, which is indicative of the amount of carotene that they have
Care
  • Soil should be rich in organic matter and have a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5
  • About an inch of water every week will help them survive
  • Prefers full sunlight

Most people eat the roots of the carrots, making it seem as if that’s the only part that is eaten. However, this is far from the truth, considering that the seeds, leaves, and flowers are edible and taste very well.

5. Marigolds

A Beauty and Beneficial Flower

Benefits
  • Attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and lacewings
  • The toxins in this plant destroy nematodes
Uses
  • Used or treating burns and wounds
  • Used as poultry feed
  • Used as a food coloring
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Has single flowers that can be lemon yellow, yellow, golden yellow, or orange
  • Has fragrant leaves
  • Mainly bloom in summer or autumn
Care
  • Can grow well under the full sun or the partial shade in the afternoon
  • Needs soils with good drainage
  • Allow the soil to completely dry between waterings

Marigolds are grown in different parts of the world as garden flowers though they are cultivated as herbs in central and south America. These plants have special meanings in Indian weddings.

They are believed to bestow brightness, happiness, passion, and creativity on newlyweds, which is why it is also called the “herbs of the Sun.”

6. Onions

A Flavorful Allium Vegetable

Benefits
  • Are nutrient-rich
  • Exhibit the ability to kill germs that may cause sickness
  • Improves your digestive health
Uses
  • Used for flavoring relishes
  • Used to polish cutlery
  • Can absorb the smells of paints
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Grows to a height between six to 18 inches
  • Leaves are hollow with colors that range from yellowish to bluish-green
  • Either forms big bulbs or could be shallots that don’t form such bulbs
Care
  • Once the leaves begin to turn yellow, stop watering because bulb formation would have started.
  • Does well in full sun
  • Requires soils that are well-drained, fertile, and slightly acidic

Did you know that onion is a biennial plant, though it is often grown as an annual one? This plant, which is now commonly grown throughout the world, has its origins in Middle Asia. Also, note that onion bulbs exist in three primary colors, which are, yellow, white, and red.

7. Peas

The Tasty and Nutritious Peas

Benefits
  • Rich sources of nutrients including vitamins A and C, as well as phosphorus and iron
  •  Helps to reduce inflammation
  • Has high amounts of protein that help to reduce the rate at which your skin ages
Uses
  • Prepared as a side dish, or could be added in salads, soups, and stews
  • Used for stock feeding
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Produces yellow or green pods that contain seeds inside
  • Plant produces purple or white flowers
  • Seeds can be round or wrinkled.
Care
  • Growing under full sun aids higher yields
  • Directly water the soil and not the foliage, otherwise, fungal infections may result.
  • Loamy soils that are well-drained are ideal

Pea plants are legumes so they belong to the Fabaceae family. This plant is native to the Mediterranean region. Basically, there are three main types of peas, which are snow peas, snap peas, and shelling peas.

Conclusion

As you get to the end of this article, you might have noticed that companion planting, particularly growing tomatillos with other plants, is a pleasurable experience.

Here is a straightforward compilation of the take-home points that you should keep at the tips of your fingers as far as tomatillo companion planting is concerned:

  • Most of the companion plants for tomatillos are common edible plants.
  • You can plant tomatillos together with onions, parsley, carrots, peas, or peppers.
  • Most of the tomatillo companion plants need full sun and well-draining soils for them to grow well and produce fruits.
  • The companion plants have various uses in the food, agriculture, cosmetic, and traditional medicine fields.

Planting tomatillos together with the plants that we listed in this article will give you a unique gardening experience that is more fun. Now, plant tomatillo plants alongside the companion beauties of your choice and enjoy observing the harmonious growth.

References

https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/chiwonlee/plsc211/student%20papers/articles09/kyle%20cuppy/kcuppy.html

https://academics.hamilton.edu/foodforthought/our_research_files/allium.pdf

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