Tomatoes are among the most popular home garden crops, but many gardeners struggle with inconsistent fruit set. Flowers may bloom abundantly, yet some never develop into tomatoes. One way to solve this issue is by planting flowers that attract the right pollinators. Since tomatoes are self-pollinating but require vibration or insect activity to release pollen, nearby flowers can encourage more pollinator visits, improve pollination, and lead to heavier, more reliable harvests.
Why Tomatoes Need Pollinator Support
Tomato flowers contain both male and female parts, meaning they can fertilize themselves. However, pollen is often trapped inside the flower’s structure. Wind, buzzing bees, or manual shaking are needed to release it. Without enough vibration, flowers may drop without setting fruit. Flowers that lure pollinators into the garden provide natural assistance, ensuring tomato blossoms are visited regularly.
Best Flowers to Plant for Tomato Pollination
1. Marigolds
Marigolds are classic tomato companions. Their bright colors attract pollinators like hoverflies and bees. Beyond pollination benefits, marigolds help deter nematodes and repel pests such as whiteflies, making them a multifunctional companion.
2. Borage
Borage produces star-shaped blue flowers that bees love. It blooms for a long season, providing consistent nectar that keeps pollinators in the garden. Borage also improves tomato growth by enriching soil with trace minerals when its leaves break down.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums offer vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms that draw in pollinators. Their sprawling habit makes them excellent ground covers near tomatoes, reducing weeds and conserving moisture while encouraging beneficial insect traffic.
4. Calendula (Pot Marigold)
Calendula’s daisy-like flowers attract bees and hoverflies that often stop by tomato flowers during their foraging. It also adds beauty and diversity to the garden, improving ecological balance.
5. Sunflowers
Although taller than tomatoes, sunflowers lure pollinators from a distance. Once bees are attracted to the towering blooms, they often visit tomato flowers nearby. Plant them at the back of the garden bed to avoid shading tomatoes.
6. Zinnias
Zinnias bloom in bright colors all season, providing nectar for bees and butterflies. Their continuous flowering ensures that pollinators keep returning, boosting tomato pollination throughout summer.
7. Alyssum
Sweet alyssum produces small, fragrant flowers that attract beneficial insects. When interplanted with tomatoes, alyssum creates a low-growing carpet that encourages pollinators without competing heavily for space.
Planting Strategies for Success
- Mix Heights and Colors: Diverse flowers create visual cues that attract a wide range of pollinators.
- Border Planting: Place flowers around tomato beds to form a pollinator corridor.
- Interplanting: Tuck flowers like marigolds or alyssum directly between tomato plants for maximum effect.
- Succession Blooming: Choose flowers with staggered bloom times so pollinators are supported all season.
Extra Benefits of Flower Companions
Besides pollination, flowers offer other advantages when planted near tomatoes:
- Pest Control: Strongly scented flowers like marigolds and nasturtiums repel harmful insects.
- Soil Health: Borage and calendula contribute organic matter when cut back and mulched.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Flowering companions turn vegetable beds into colorful, pollinator-friendly landscapes.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcrowding: Too many flowers can compete with tomatoes for water and nutrients. Keep spacing balanced.
- Planting Tall Flowers Too Close: Sunflowers or other tall flowers should not shade tomato plants.
- Ignoring Bloom Timing: If flowers bloom before or after tomato blossoms, they won’t help much with pollination.
Long-Term Benefits
By integrating pollinator-friendly flowers into your tomato beds year after year, you create a more resilient garden. Tomatoes set more fruit, pest problems decline, and the overall ecosystem becomes healthier. Pollinators become regular visitors, ensuring reliable harvests without the need for hand-pollination.
Conclusion
Flowers that improve tomato pollination are not just ornamental — they are powerful allies in the vegetable garden. By planting companions like marigolds, borage, nasturtiums, calendula, sunflowers, zinnias, and alyssum, you attract pollinators that help tomatoes set fruit more consistently. With thoughtful planting, you’ll enjoy fuller harvests, healthier plants, and a more vibrant garden ecosystem.
FAQs on Flowers for Tomato Pollination
Q: Do tomatoes need bees to pollinate?
A: Tomatoes are self-pollinating but benefit greatly from bee activity, which shakes loose pollen and increases fruit set.
Q: What is the single best flower to pair with tomatoes?
A: Marigolds are often considered the best because they attract pollinators and also help deter pests.
Q: Can flowers improve tomato flavor?
A: While flowers themselves don’t change flavor, companions like basil (an herb) and pollinator-attracting flowers indirectly improve harvest quality by ensuring better fruit set.
Q: Should flowers be planted inside or outside tomato cages?
A: Both work. Low-growing flowers like alyssum or marigolds can fit inside cages, while taller flowers like sunflowers should be planted outside to avoid shading.
Q: How many flowers should I plant per tomato bed?
A: A general rule is to include at least one companion flower for every two to three tomato plants to ensure steady pollinator visits.