Can peppers and tomatoes share garden space?

Many gardeners want to know if peppers and tomatoes can be grown together successfully. The answer is yes, with careful planning. Both of these plants are sun lovers and have similar requirements, but require careful arrangement. It is my custom to grow them side by side every year with success if the main rules are followed.

Allow at least 24 inches of space between your pepper plants and your tomato plants. This avoids overcrowding of the root systems and minimizes the transfer of disease. Tomatoes tend to be taller and, if planted poorly, they may shade the peppers. Plant your peppers south of your tomatoes to get equal sunshine. In alternating rows, your peppers and tomatoes will receive the same amount of distorted sunlight.

Do not plant peppers and tomatoes consecutively in the same area. Move them from location to location every year to break up disease cycles. Verticillium wilt and other soil pathogens affect both plants. I have a three-year rotation schedule for my beds, which keeps my plants healthy.

Use separate supports to avoid entanglement. Tomato cages often become too large for peppers. I put substantial tomato stakes in place early, and use small cages for the peppers. Prune out any branches that cross between the two crops every week to keep things delineated.

Water both crops at the base with a drip irrigation system, rather than overhead watering, to avoid diseases that could be transmitted between them. I have independent drip lines running for both rows. Watch for aphids, a common pest of both crops, as they are rigorous when discovered. Control immediately.

Read the full article: Pepper Plant Spacing Simplified