Tomatoes and chillies often end up in the same bed or side by side on the balcony for many gardeners – no coincidence, since they're closely related botanically. What speaks for planting them together, what to watch out for, and why "planting peppers and tomatoes together" is really the same question as with chilli.
Tomato and chilli – close botanical relatives
Tomatoes, chillies and peppers all belong to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Chilli and (sweet) pepper are even the same plant genus botanically (Capsicum) – the difference lies only in heat and variety, not in the plant family. So anyone searching for "planting peppers and tomatoes together" essentially gets the same answer with chilli and tomato.
What speaks for planting them together
Tomatoes and chillies both like a warm, sunny, wind-sheltered spot, similar amounts of water and a comparable feeding rhythm. That makes care practical: if both are growing side by side, you can plan watering and feeding for both together instead of juggling two different care schedules.
What to watch out for
Because tomatoes and chillies are closely related, they also share some of the same diseases and pests – certain leaf spot diseases or aphids, for example. Growing them right next to each other is therefore not a problem, but you shouldn't grow both in exactly the same spot every year (keep to crop rotation or properly refresh the soil), and when you spot disease symptoms, keep an eye on both plant types, not just the one affected.
The right spacing for mixed planting
Allow around 40–60 cm of spacing for tomatoes and about 40–50 cm for chilli plants – between the two types, a similar spacing to within one type is usually enough. In pots or containers: each plant needs its own container with enough volume, a shared pot for both is too cramped in the long run.
Good companions for tomatoes and chilli
Basil has proven itself as a good companion (it keeps some pests away and pairs well with both in the kitchen anyway), as have marigolds and nasturtiums (both considered natural pest deterrents). We'd advise against planting directly next to other nightshades such as potatoes, though, so as not to increase the shared disease risk further.
Discover tomato and chilli plants at Tschida Tschili
Whether you go for one plant family or both: in our tomato plants collection and our chilli plants collection you'll find more than 50 varieties each, grown by us in Illmitz – ideal for growing both side by side in the same bed or on the balcony.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you plant tomatoes and chilli together? Yes, both have similar position and care requirements and get along well as neighbours.
- Is this the same as planting peppers and tomatoes together? Botanically, yes – chilli and pepper belong to the same plant genus (Capsicum), so the same guidance applies to both.
- What should I watch out for when planting them together? Enough spacing, separate containers in pots, and not growing both in the same spot every year or refreshing the soil, since they can share diseases.