Companion Plants: Onion Chives and Tomatoes

Credit: iStock

One of the first crops of the spring season is healthy and tasty onion chives. When planting onion chives this year, I suggest you practice some companion planting and leave room between the chives to tuck in your favourite tomato plants; you’ll enjoy tastier, disease-free plants by taking advantage of the natural protection of onion chives. It is believed that onion chives help repel pests such as tomato horn worms, red spider mites and aphids from tomatoes. It is also said that tomatoes are tastier and enjoy improved growth, yield and vigour when onion chives are grown nearby. The sulfur in the chives will also give the tomatoes natural resistance to blight and mould. The chives receive the benefit of shade from the tomatoes, protecting them from strong summer sun. Onion chives are also good companions for carrots, grapes, spinach and peppers. Make the best of the natural biological control by creating a garden full of planned diversity. Not only are tomatoes and onion chives great partners in the garden, they are also wonderful paired up at harvest time. Enjoy!