Tradition
Disputed
avoidgood
3 chart entries: 2 recommend, 1 advise against.
1 cited, 2 uncited.
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Solanaceae
Pepper
Capsicum annuum
SolanaceaeCan you plant tomatoes and peppers together?
It depends. Nobody has tested tomatoes with peppers, as far as we could find. Garden charts disagree about it, and both are in the Solanaceae family, so they share pests and diseases.
Why we can't give a firm answer
Garden charts disagree. 2 chart entries recommend the pair and 1 advises against it. 2 of them cite no source. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
Same family, shared pests. Peppers and tomatoes are both in the Solanaceae family, so the same pests and diseases can move from one to the other.
Crop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
What to plant with tomatoes and peppers
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
OnionWith tomatoes: Better soil and nutrient uptakeWith peppers: 20% more harvest
EggplantWith tomatoes: 12% more harvestWith peppers: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
BasilWith tomatoes: 7% more harvestWith peppers: Fewer pests
CilantroWith tomatoes: Less diseaseWith peppers: Fewer pests
ChivesWith tomatoes: Fewer pestsWith peppers: Fewer pests
What to keep away from tomatoes and peppers
RosemaryWith tomatoes: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
KaleWith peppers: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
Brussels sproutsWith peppers: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Same family, shared pests and diseases. Both in Solanaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insects. Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden
Research
No papers found on this pair.
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
Untested folklore
What happens above and below ground
Each animation illustrates a mechanism a study reported for this pair. Pick a card to focus on it.
Everything at once.
Companion plants for both tomatoes and peppers
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With tomatoes | With peppers |
|---|---|---|
| Onion | Better soil and nutrient uptake and bigger combined harvestMixed results on soil and nutrientsField trial, 7 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for tomatoes and onions | 20% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 6 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for peppers and onions |
| Eggplant | 12% more harvest from the same spaceSame family (Solanaceae): shares pests and diseasesField trial, 2 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and eggplant | No trial foundSame family (Solanaceae): shares pests and diseasesNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for peppers and eggplant |
| Basil | Helpful plant chemistry, fewer pests and better soil and nutrient uptake7% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 6 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and basil | Fewer pests and draws in pest-eating insectsMixed results on harvestField trial, 6 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for peppers and basil |
| Cilantro | Less disease and fewer pestsField trial, 3 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and cilantro | Fewer pests and draws in pest-eating insectsField trial, 2 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for peppers and cilantro |
| Chives | Fewer pests and less diseaseField trial, 2 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and chives | Fewer pestsGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for peppers and chives |
 Celery | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and celery | Better soil and nutrient uptakeField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for peppers and celery |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
Recommended by garden charts for both, not tested yet
The evidence, with sources
- GoodTomato helps PepperPeppers: helped by tomatoesList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- GoodTomato helps PepperTomatoes: helps peppersList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- Badadvises againstTomatoes: avoid chili peppers
- Both in Solanaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insectsCrop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
All neighbours of tomato and of pepper, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown tomatoes and peppers together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.