A Great Trio of Companion Plants: Tomatoes, Squash, and Borage (2024)

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A Great Trio of Companion Plants: Tomatoes, Squash, and Borage? ›

The three-way partnership works like this: As tomatoes flower and begin to produce fruit, borage planted near and between the tomato plants deters hornworms and simultaneously attracts bees and other pollinators to fertilize the late-season squash you've planted, which is just now flowering and getting ready to produce ...

Borage is a good companion plant for tomatoes because it attracts pollinators, such as bees and other beneficial insects, to the garden. Plant near tomatoes to improve growth and disease resistance. Borage may also enhance the flavor of your tomatoes.

Can you plant squash next to tomatoes? Yes, they make great companion plants. Squash have large, broad leaves which help to keep the moisture in the ground.

The Iroquois and the Cherokee called corn, bean, and squash “the three sisters” because they nurture each other like family when planted together. These agriculturalists placed corn in small hills planting beans around them and interspersing squash throughout of the field.

A good example is borage planted alongside squash or pumpkin. This leafy annual herb produces an essential oil that's known to repel squash bug, a major pest of squash and pumpkin. Or the aromatic herb rosemary is thought to repel cabbage moth – whose caterpillars damage broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Borage seed oil is LIKELY UNSAFE during pregnancy and while breast-feeding. It is important to avoid borage products that might contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). PAs are a risk to the mother because they can cause serious liver disease and might cause cancer.

There is much talk of growing borage as a companion plant for tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries and squash, associated with a reduction in leaf-eating caterpillars such as tomato hornworms and cabbage worms.

You may want to experiment with different companion crops until you find the perfect combination to fit your personal tastes and growing conditions. Avoid planting zucchini and summer squash with all other vining plants which include cucumbers and sweet potatoes as well as pumpkins, winter squashes, and melons.

The crops of corn, beans, and squash are known as the Three Sisters. For centuries these three crops have been the center of Native American agriculture and culinary traditions. It is for good reason as these three crops complement each other in the garden as well as nutritionally.

How far apart should I plant Three Sisters? ›

Before planting, choose a sunny location (at least 6 hours of full sun every day). This method of planting isn't based on rows, so think in terms of a small field. Each hill will be about 4 feet wide and 4 feet apart, with 4 to 6 corn plants per hill.

Add compost or other materials such as peat moss or manure to the soil. This will improve the soil structure and add nutrients. If you have grown a green manure cover crop such as winter rye, turn it under two to three weeks before planting.

One good layout plan is a 4-foot by 8-foot bed in which a tomato plant is planted in each corner of the bed, with a borage plant growing between each tomato plant. Then, in the center of the bed, plant two late-summer squash plants.

Borage provides prodigious amounts of pollen and nectar, becoming a magnet for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

Yellowing leaves can signal your Borage is getting too much water. Root rot might follow if you don't ease up on the watering can. Conversely, wilting leaves and parched soil indicate a thirsty plant; it's a clear sign your Borage needs more water.

In search of excuses to grow more borage, I began looking into its usefulness as a companion plant. There is much talk of growing borage as a companion plant for tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries and squash, associated with a reduction in leaf-eating caterpillars such as tomato hornworms and cabbage worms.

Tomatoes planted near borage seem to improve in growth and disease resistance. Borage adds trace minerals to the soil it is planted in, and is good for composting and mulching. It is an annual, but readily self-seeds and thrives in full sun.

It also attracts pollinators such as bees, which can help improve the yield of pepper plants. Borage: Borage is known to repel certain pests, such as tomato hornworms, which can also affect pepper plants. Borage is also a great pollinator plant, attracting bees and other beneficial insects to your garden.