Can you plant thyme and tomatoes together?

Charts say yes. Nobody has tested thyme with tomatoes, as far as we could find.

Why we can't give a firm answer

Garden charts recommend it. 2 garden chart entries recommend growing them together. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
Companion planting: A method for sustainable pest control (Riesselman · Iowa State University)

What to plant with thyme and tomatoes

Good neighbours of both, best tested first.

CabbageWith thyme: Bigger combined harvestWith tomatoes: 34% more harvest
EggplantWith thyme: Recommended by garden charts, not testedWith tomatoes: 12% more harvest

How each one was tested, with the evidence

What to keep away from thyme and tomatoes

BasilWith thyme: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
RosemaryWith tomatoes: 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

Tradition

Good

avoidgood

2 chart entries: 2 recommend, 0 advise against.

All entries cite a source.

Research

No papers found on this pair.

Yield trial

No intercropping yield trial.

Untested folklore

Companion plants for both thyme and tomatoes

Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.

Plant	With thyme	With tomatoes
Cabbage	Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: recommend.Evidence for thyme and cabbage	34% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 4 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for tomatoes and cabbage
Eggplant	No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for thyme and eggplant	12% more harvest from the same spaceSame family (Solanaceae): shares pests and diseasesField trial, 2 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for tomatoes and eggplant

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).

The evidence, with sources

TraditionGood2 entries

GoodThyme helps Tomato
Tomatoes: helped by thyme
Companion planting: A method for sustainable pest control (Riesselman · Iowa State University)
GoodThyme helps Tomato
Thyme: helps tomato
Companion planting: A method for sustainable pest control (Riesselman · Iowa State University)

Plan a bed with thyme and tomatoes

All neighbours of thyme and of tomato, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.

Have you grown thyme and tomatoes 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.