How far do potatoes really need to be from tomatoes?

OneDahlia · February 8, 2012

I keep reading "as far as possible," lol. I'll be planting mine far away from the big bed where most tomatoes will go, but this puts them close(ish) to the house, and I'd kind of like to put the two cherry tomato plants somewhere near the house for easy picking. How far apart do they really have to be? And do they have to be as far from peppers and eggplants too?

kath · February 8, 2012

I don't have enough room to separate mine and have never had any problems. They are part of the same plant family and are subject to attack from the same bugs and diseases. Some recommend not growing plants in this family (tomato, pepper, potato, eggplant) in the same spot as any of the others for at least 3 years. I don't have that kind of room especially because I grow so many tomatoes, peppers and potatoes compared to everything else. For me this falls under the "don't sweat the small stuff" umbrella.

fortyonenorth · February 8, 2012

The way I look at, how is planting a potato next to a tomato much different than planting a tomato next to a tomato?

ContainerTed · February 8, 2012

Last year, I had mine at least 23 inches apart and that seemed to be just fine. My Red Pontiac and Yukon Gold potatoes kept all the Colorado Potato Beetles concentrated on their foliage and off the tomatoes. That made spraying a bit easier.

I've never heard of separating them. Where did that come from? Did I miss something??

Dang, I'm always the last to know things!!!

OneDahlia · February 8, 2012

Lol, fortyonenorth! Good point.

Thanks for the responses -- that's a relief!

Ted, I don't know, I've read it a bunch of places, but it's sure good to know that people are doing just fine with them closer together.

janezee · February 8, 2012

I think that all that fuss is regarding potatoes left to rot in the ground and keep late blight spores alive. If you don't have late blight like we do here, it's not an issue.
hth
j

OneDahlia · February 8, 2012

Janezee, interesting. We do apparently get late blight here sometimes, but I gather it's not as common as where you are. Will try to make sure we get all the potatoes up, in case that might help.

wmontanez · February 8, 2012

All the nightshade family (tomato, peppers, eggplant, potato, tabacco) can be planted together but not in the same garden spot year after year because disease and nutrient depletion. If you have room to rotate then is a good idea to do. I read that late blight cab overwinter in the tubers if left in the ground and next year if you happen to plant again tomatoes or potatoes in the same spot then you could get your plants infected. I grow all those together but rotate each year.

**Tom Wagner** · February 11, 2012

Because I live in a area where late blight comes into the potato patch or tomato patch by early Fall, I try not to have them anywhere near each other.....seems the blight goes back and forth....compounding the blight sporation. But of course, I quite often plant side by side simply because I can then select for the resistance I am so happily getting in increasing numbers of varieties as they are developed.

:-)

February 8, 2012	#1
OneDahlia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 7a NO. VA. Posts: 202	How far do potatoes really need to be from tomatoes? I keep reading "as far as possible," lol. I'll be planting mine far away from the big bed where most tomatoes will go, but this puts them close(ish) to the house, and I'd kind of like to put the two cherry tomato plants somewhere near the house for easy picking. How far apart do they really have to be? And do they have to be as far from peppers and eggplants too?

February 8, 2012	#4
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Last year, I had mine at least 23 inches apart and that seemed to be just fine. My Red Pontiac and Yukon Gold potatoes kept all the Colorado Potato Beetles concentrated on their foliage and off the tomatoes. That made spraying a bit easier. I've never heard of separating them. Where did that come from? Did I miss something?? Dang, I'm always the last to know things!!! __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

February 8, 2012	#8
wmontanez Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts: 776	All the nightshade family (tomato, peppers, eggplant, potato, tabacco) can be planted together but not in the same garden spot year after year because disease and nutrient depletion. If you have room to rotate then is a good idea to do. I read that late blight cab overwinter in the tubers if left in the ground and next year if you happen to plant again tomatoes or potatoes in the same spot then you could get your plants infected. I grow all those together but rotate each year. __________________ Wendy

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February 8, 2012	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I don't have enough room to separate mine and have never had any problems. They are part of the same plant family and are subject to attack from the same bugs and diseases. Some recommend not growing plants in this family (tomato, pepper, potato, eggplant) in the same spot as any of the others for at least 3 years. I don't have that kind of room especially because I grow so many tomatoes, peppers and potatoes compared to everything else. For me this falls under the "don't sweat the small stuff" umbrella.

February 8, 2012	#3
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	The way I look at, how is planting a potato next to a tomato much different than planting a tomato next to a tomato?

February 8, 2012	#6
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	I think that all that fuss is regarding potatoes left to rot in the ground and keep late blight spores alive. If you don't have late blight like we do here, it's not an issue. hth j

February 11, 2012	#9
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Because I live in a area where late blight comes into the potato patch or tomato patch by early Fall, I try not to have them anywhere near each other.....seems the blight goes back and forth....compounding the blight sporation. But of course, I quite often plant side by side simply because I can then select for the resistance I am so happily getting in increasing numbers of varieties as they are developed. :-)