I've got parsley, Lebanese cucumber, marrow, bell peppers/chillies and celery in and around my tomatoes. No bugs, no weeds. And I play them some Chopin every morning.
"Hey mom, how are things? Yeah, I'm just calling to let you know that I've picked up some hairy vetch for a companion, so that my fruit don't get all moldy and wilt..." *CLICK* "... mom?"
Brian, I was so moved and impressed that you shared your experience with your anurism. I hope you are still doing well. God's love and mercy to his children is so amazing. I also wanted to let you know that the telling of your story and the reciprocal comments have encouraged me in my health struggles. Best to you!
Brian, you are becoming even more funny! (Not getting political, haha.) You give us so much wonderful information, but the humor is great too. Now I know where Noah gets it. Bless your wife in all this too.
What a find. Studied Horticulture in College then landscape design. Passionate for 40 years about anything growing. You are spot on and thorough in your info and easy to follow. My new favorite channel.
I stumbled across this channel a few days ago and have binged watched so many episodes already. This is by far my favorite gardening channel. Thanks so much for all of your helpful information. I tried to grow tomatoes a few years ago and failed miserably. I was very discouraged and stopped gardening all together. I am so excited to start growing again this year. I cant wait to share with you how it goes. Thanks Brian!
I just recently discovered you and starged BINGE watching your videos. I started gardening last year as a way to stay sane during lockdown with mixed results, but I was okay with that because it did keep me sane! Why I didn't think to come to RU-vid I have no idea. but this year I wanted RESULTS and HERE YOU ARE!!!! THIS video is a GAME CHANGER for me. I'm heading out in a few minutes with my cup of coffee to start planting my "salad." I know it's late, but I am planting packs from Armstrong. My goal is to figure it out and maybe a few salads out of the deal so NEXT season I will do better. My tomatoes are in and I over-wintered my bellpeppers without realizing it in-ground. Let's see what happens this year. I also over-wintered two entire TOO HAPPY eggplants, but I never got really mature eggplants so I've pruned it down and got your fertilizer recommendations and we are going to try again this year! Again, if nothing else it's therapy. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
We had a vegetable garden plus rhubarb about 75’ from a black walnut tree. It grew well for many years but gradually declined. I think as the walnut root system expanded, it prevent my plants growing. We created a new garden further away and it thrived! It is many years later now, and I am old! I now container garden. I first used 5 leaky stock tanks. Now I still use them but also use food grade, 18 gallon totes. They work great. I plant a Mai gold in each tote and think it helps. Plant herbs either in with my veggies or place pots of herbs between my totes. Also have a few large pots of marigolds near the totes. Using containers really simplifies gardening for me. I do have help filling my totes. This year each tote is half or a little less of last years potting mix, topped with new potting mix and fertilizer mulch.
I love marigolds and have major issues with cabbage moths and worms... I learned that marigolds are a big attractor of those moths. I will force myself not to plant them to see what happens. I am planting painted daisy along with more herbs. My all time fav to plant with tomatoes is borage... my oh my, it was a flavor game changer.
We’re just coming out of summer in Australia and I’ve still got tomatoes in my garden. I can honestly say I had no pests this season. I planted lots of basil in and around my tomato plants. I didn’t even have to use any organic sprays. Very informative video. Thank you 🍅
You can harvest that purple clover! Both the greens and flower are edible. The flowers make delicious teas when dried and combined with other herbs. The greens are best boiled, and you can also use them in salads. They are a natural source of folic acid which is beneficial for memory and skin.
Whew, this was timely. I've got seed potatoes ready to go in grow bags, and had every intention of plopping them down right next to the tomatoes. Tyvm!!
My wife collects the flowers of crimson clover, dries them and make tea from them. Supposed to be good for the heart. So far it’s working - physically & emotionally 😀. Unfortunately, they also attract the bunnies and the bunnies will munch on the tomatoes just right before we get ready to pick them. 😡
Last year I had lots of marigolds in my tomato garden, one in each bed corner, plus only one basil. Zero horn worms, and I even bought a special flashlight to hunt them at night. Nada. No pests in my tomato garden. I planted several borage plants in my cabbage and kale garden, and one near my tomato beds. Supposedly, it draws wasps, which I did see in my garden. (Of course, honey bees LOVE borage, too.) I planted thyme for scent and beneficial bugs, too... plus two onions. The only problem I had was white cabbage butterflies. I could never find the caterpillars... and I looked hard, even at night with the black light... maybe the wasps ate them! But I think the huge grasshoppers ate my cabbage and kales. I plan using fleece, this time.
Marigolds are about the easiest seed to save and start !! I start them in the house because I live in zone 3, I mass sow them in a disposable food tray and just break chunks off and plop in the ground.....free and easy way to have a lot of marigolds!!!!
Hi, Brian. I had to wait for the tornadoes and rain to clear out. But, this morning I planted parsley, carrots, and basil in the bed where my tomatoes will go (hopefully next weekend). After seeing this, I think I may go out and dump more of those seeds all over the bed. We're going to get a late cold snap coming in Wednesday and Thursday night. But if all goes well, I can plant my tomato seedlings Friday. Before this video, I also watched your container video. I opted for a 10 gallon flower pot/container for my first try at potatoes. I probably should have planted them already. But if nothing else, I'll be a pro at what not to do, in just a few seasons.😅 Thank you so much for the great info!
Brian, french marigold, pot marigold, best companion plants for like, everything! And long tagetes for composting, they have a compound that supresses nematode development.
Now that I've advanced in growing tomatoes this is my next step. Timely advice! As far as hornworms go invest in a blacklight flashlight. The hornworms will glow at night and you can pluck them and feed them t your chickens in the morning.
TY FOR EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE!! What about tomatoes + brassicas? Everything I’ve read said to avoid planting together...truth or false? And if true, how far apart should they be planted?
What... you don't like the "stinky butt" commercials cropping up in the middle of a sentence? 😂😂😂 Or the annoying old farts telling you everything in your garden will cause arthritis... omg.
Hairy vetch climbs and will take over everything. It's hard to get all the seeds. We got a roll of hay one year that had vetch in it. I've fought it ever since. But, my chickens love it. I've been feeding it to them the last couple of weeks .
I love the cottage tour video. I am 56 years old and have Multiple Sclerosis. One of my biggest fears is tripping over the water hose. This water hose would be a lifesaver for me. I totally love Next Level Gardening. I have learned a massive amount that is helping me greatly with my garden.
Oh I wish there was a companion plant for the tomato/potato psyllid. I have to plant potatoes super early to avoid these horrors and then spray my tomatoes every two weeks with neem oil. Otherwise these pesky little things will suck the plants to death. Funny, It is said it came to New Zealand from Califormia, yet it doesnt seem to be a problem for you all over there. Great video though.
Please help me with info regarding chives. I planted two plants two years ago and they are now all over my small in ground herb garden. Must I locate all the roots and replant just one in order to rid myself of the excess? Thank you!
planting basil this year around tomatoes....do marigolds benefit anything?...I have always heard they did but not sure what. I have some planted for that use
Unfortunately, hairy vetch is a common weed here in GA zone 7b. An old timer calls it “Hairy Wretch” 😆 The hairy parts are what stick to you, your dog, the neighborhood rabbits and take pieces of the plat everywhere!
I find that growing tobacco in the garden protects my tomatoes from all insects. Every bug living in the county (horned worms, loopers, aphids, cutworms, white flies, etc) will somehow find my tobacco plants and my tomatoes just get lonely.
I have had good luck with scattering some tobacco plants in the garden as well. It's all just anecdotal/observational and I have no real data that it works. Wonder what the science actually says about this plant? In any case, it is a very pretty plant and so fun to grow.
Thank you so much for the informative (and occasionally hilarious) videos. Forty+ years ago when I blindly planted an array of seeds, I was blessed with huge crops of a variety of veggies. I really had no idea what I was doing! In subsequent years, time constraints limited my gardening. Since I've retired, I've gone all-in, researching, planning, and investing a great deal of time and money trying to revive the success I had all those years ago. I believe I've figured out why I've failed with certain crops (thank you). We have quite a bit of nut trees, including black walnuts. Most have been removed (storm damage hastened their demise). So here is my question about spacing tomatoes away from the walnuts: is spacing still a concern if the tomato is in a raised bed? I appreciate your wisdom and advice
You could use it to attract cabbage loopers, the loopers in my area attack them every summer. I’m using nasturtiums for loopers this year, hoping they’ll save me enough mint for a few mojitos. 😏
I get your point, but in my home town of Yuma, Arizona there were no Lady Bugs close enough to attract by Companion Planting or any other method. And the LBs and Praying Mantises I got my mail were NOT harvested wild, but supplied by Rodale or one of their partners. Very few of the insects I ordered flew away, because I provided them with a superb invironment with lots of food. Ordered bugs worked well for me for over two decades with zero problems.
This is the type of video that makes me absolutely love your channel Brian. Most of your videos are evidence based - not just anecdotal "because this is how I have done it for 30 years". Such absolute statements are rarely universally accepted across all scenarios. I love finding topics where I can debunk myths related to farming. This is an excellent video - thank you!! - Rick
I’ve planted hairy vetch as green manure in the veggie beds and it really does improve the soil (NPK testing). I’m for sure going to try it in the tomato patch as well. Thanks for the informative video.
I heard of someone once named Harry Mewes. (pronounced "Hairy Mavis"). It's a good idea to think about what a name will sound like before saddling a kid with it.
Of course I learned something! I always do. And this time what I learned has also save me a pure headache. The tub I planted with taters is right where the tomatoes are going to be. I will be moving that tub over by the tater bed thank you very much. 🤣 Thanks as always!
If you're growing in raised containers/tubs, as long as your maters and taters aren't in the same bed you'll be ok. Taters are nitrogen suckers, and would steal it from your maters. But if they're in ground, you need to be sure they're 10' apart. Happy planting!
@@krissgross2335 - Thank you! My main crop is in a raised bed on the opposite side of the garden. I happen to do a tub for video purposes and it is right next to where the maters are going to be. Thank God it is a tub because it can be easily moved over by the bed.
I can't remember if it was in your other companion video but I was going to use the shade created by the tomato to grow herbs and for their pest benefits. Basil also makes an amazing addition to flower gardens and if you let it go to flower, they look great as fillers in bouquets for all my flower gardeners out there ♥️♥️♥️
I really learned a lot from your video, thank you. Planting Crimson Clover also has a two-fold since the flowers can be picked not only for medicinal purposes but I understand they make a pretty good jelly.
My garden is only 19 by 12 so unfortunately I have no choice but to grow potatoes in close proximity to my tomatoes. I’ll just keep my fingers crossed!
How far should the basil be planted from the tomato to affect the scent for the tomato horned worms?! I have a 10x10 balcony with multiple tomato & basil plants... and at least once every other season, the horned worms still find my 4th floor balcony! How strong IS their smell?!
Yes!! Finally, after searching and searching, I find some good advice about flea beetles. 4 years ago I started having problems with them in my tomato beds. I have no idea where they came from (I'd sure like to know), but they have continued to aggravate me, though somewhat less due to diligent use of an organic spray. I LOVE your channel and have subscribed for years now. Thank you!
I don't think that oak should be a problem, although one might consider that it is quite acidic. As to whether the toxin in Black Walnut will leach into the soil from the wood in significant quantities, I couldn't say. I do hope that everyone realizes by now that Black Walnut is probably the most expensive timber native to North America, so any sizeable log could be turned into something beautiful and valueable.
Noooo!!! Don’t grow up!!! Your smile and sense of humor is such a great part of your videos. 🥰❤️😉. I had to look up hairy vetch. Holy cow! I’ve seen that growing wild and had no idea what it was Now every time I see that I will think of you trying not to laugh at the name.❤️❤️❤️❤️
I grew hairy vetch a few years ago tho not sure why. I'm planting more of it this fall as you suggested and will cut it back next spring to grow tomatoes! Never knew this! Better write this one down so I never forget it! THANKS, Brian!!! And by the way, Kellogg's Breakfast is also MY favorite tomato ever!!!
Hairy vetch is growing as a weed in my yard, lol. Your videos are very informative, and I will say this carefully: I am considered to be one of the leading experts in the world on the critically endangered dawn redwood, but last year was the first time I had ever planted a garden, and I don't know squat about agriculture! Your videos are helping me to overcome so many of the issues I had last year. Thank you very much for putting these out. They are working!
I have returned to gardening about a year ago. I believe it was you I watched and had advised planting basil near the tomatoes! So that is what I did Both the tomatoes and basil came up thrived!🍅💚 thank you also for putting an image along with the type of bug! Although I had to pause the video while eating lunch!🥴
Oh noooo! I just watched this video - just about 2 weeks too late🤦♀️ I planted a tomatoe plant, in the same raised bed just 4 inches away from my potatoes! Oh well! It's only one plant... Lets call it an experiment🤷♀️🤣
Your joy is infectious. You provide clear and evidence-based information that I can use and pass along to others - that makes the gardening world stronger and more sustainable. Thank you. P.S. "Hairy vetch" had me laughing right along with you!
How much of each of these companions would you need to plant to get the benefit? I planted one basil plant in every row of tomatoes last year and I didn't notice much difference with the hornworms. I had a horrible problem with cutworms and had to break down and spray with BT.
If you are growing tomatoes in containers, would you plant companions like allium in the container or separate? I usually plant marigolds right in the container. Great info. Thanks.
I have been impatiently waiting for this one, thanks Brian!! I wrote down everything you mentioned and luckily I have starts of each one so now I can plant accordingly. Thanks a lot for this video!!
This was a good video. A new pest in our tomatoes in Idaho last year was Psyllids. Apparently they are moving up from the south. Any ideas that would help to control them.
Your video convince me not to grow tomato ever again. Too much stress,have to deal with all the insects and diseases on the tomato. Cleaning the house,going for a walk,doing exercise….much better for my body.Thanks a million.
Consider the retated Vetch from China called Astragalus Membranaceous, which yields medicinal roots of substantial size. Used extensively as a tonic in Traditional Chinese medicine, this helpful plant fixes nitrogen, attracts butterflies and veneficial predatory insects, and provides excellent erosion control in marginal areas.
Pill bugs and Ear wings are killing all my plants every year. I fight them. the pill bugs are taking over. and the ear wings are ... I just can't even think about it. Any suggestions. I've tried the beer traps and pretty much everything. One thing that helped cut the ear wings back the past two years was barbq sauce mixed with water. But still not enough. My corn gets eaten every year. I have tried moving them every where in my small area. this year. I will plant them behind my house and forget about them. hoping to attract the ear wigs back there. But the pill bugs are already every where and we haven't even gotten to our last frost April 29. I am so close to using chemicals. Any suggestions? please I will try it or try others again if I have to. Or I will use all of them. I am at war in my garden.
HELP... I had beautiful tomatoes last year but lost my whole crop is leaf footed bugs. There were more than I could pick off and drown. Any suggestions???❤️❤️
