Planting tomatoes and cucumbers together: yes or no?

Tomatoes and cucumbers are among the most popular types of vegetables and can be cultivated not only in the garden, but also on the terrace and balcony. But do the two species get along at all? Or is it better not to plant tomatoes and cucumbers together?

Different demands

The answer to the initial question is very simple: Tomatoes and cucumbers do not get along and should therefore not be planted together in a bed or in a garden Glasshouse to be planted. If you do, you can either end up with stunted growth and a bad harvest from the tomatoes or from the cucumbers expect. The reason for this incompatibility is the different needs of the two species in terms of humidity:

• dry air, sun and comparatively cool temperatures for tomatoes
• humid air, sun and heat for cucumbers

Originally from tropical Africa, cucumbers still need warm temperatures (which must never fall below 12 degrees Celsius!) and high humidity. Tomato plants, on the other hand, cope very well with lower temperatures and drought. If the humidity is too high, the nightshade plant develops the dreaded Late blight and late blight, which often destroys the harvest.

Tip: Spraying with field horsetail manure or onion broth from your own production helps against brown or tomato rot. However, this measure is only preventive and should be carried out regularly.

Cucumber problem mildew

While tomatoes quickly become infected with brown rot when humidity is too high, cucumber plants are often affected by mildew affected. The fungal infection, recognizable by the wipeable, mealy coating on the leaves, quickly spreads to neighboring plants and impairs their growth and fruit development. This reason also speaks in favor of not growing the two cucumbers and tomatoes together.

Tip: A spray with milk helps against powdery mildew. To do this, mix one part whole milk (not UHT milk, but raw milk if possible) with nine parts water. Stale tap water or rainwater is best.

Plan mixed culture correctly

Basically one mixed culture recommended, of course, provided the selected plants harmonize with each other. Mixed beds are more resistant to pathogens and pests, and the different plants influence each other in terms of growth and fruit development. In order for the positive effects of mixed cultivation and crop rotation to take effect, you should heed these rules:

• none heavy feeder put together
• heavy consumers always follow middle and at the end weak feeder
• not cultivate plants of the same plant family together or one after the other
• Species should have the same soil and habitat requirements

Cucumber and tomato are both heavy feeders, which is why they become food competitors when planted together in the bed. They take away important nutrients from each other, which is why often either one or even both species only grow poorly.

Criteria for joint cultivation

Despite all the prophecies of doom, there are still many gardeners who plant cucumbers and tomatoes together and have had good experiences with it. In fact, the common culture works, but only under certain conditions and with increased maintenance effort. For the culture in the greenhouse you should observe these rules:

• Tomato plants in the front area near the front door
• alternatively along the side with the ventilation openings
• Cucumber plants in the rear, more shady area away from the front door
• do not sit along ventilation openings

Of course, this cultivation method only works in larger greenhouses of at least eight square meters and a height of at least 150 centimeters. The ventilation windows should also only be located along one side or in the front area. In this way you manage to divide the greenhouse into two different climate zones and thus create good conditions for both types of plants.

Tip: In the bed or raised bed, both crops should not be planted directly next to each other, but at opposite ends. Cucumber plants should also be allowed to grow taller, which reduces the space required in width.

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