LifestyleGardeningAlan TitchmarshGardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has shared his top tomato-growing tip08:37, 02 Jun 2026Updated 08:38, 02 Jun 2026Tomato plants are particularly vulnerable to pests. This includes aphids, spider mites and whiteflies, all of which can harm the plant and devastate the crop. Whiteflies pose a particularly severe threat to tomatoes as they drain sap from the plant's leaves and stems.‌This results in the leaves turning yellow, curling up and ultimately falling off. Keeping pests completely at bay can be challenging, particularly if you're keen to avoid strong chemical sprays. However, Alan Titchmarsh has posted a video on his YouTube channel explaining how to naturally repel pests from tomato plants through companion planting.‌Companion planting is the practice of cultivating different plants alongside each other so they mutually benefit one another.‌The goal is to enhance plant health, minimise pest issues, attract beneficial insects, and boost yields without relying on chemical treatments.While tomatoes should never be cultivated near potatoes, brassicas and sweetcorn, there's one plant Alan specifically recommended.‌In a video on his YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh, the horticultural expert said that marigolds are "very good for attracting pollinators who come for its nectar and its pollen... but it's also particularly good when planted with one other crop, and that other crop is the tomato".French marigolds have a distinctive, pungent scent that actually benefits tomatoes when grown in the same soil.This means you can use the same grow bag, pot, or soil for both marigolds and tomatoes.‌Alan added: "You will find that the fact that the root exudate is so strong it puts off the whitefly."So what's going to happen now is that those aromatic roots are going to mingle with the aromatic roots of the tomato, and in some way they do seem to deter whitefly."What's more, French marigolds can add a gorgeous colour to the garden throughout the summer months.Article continues belowBasil is another plant that flourishes alongside tomatoes.Not only does it draw in pollinators, but it also makes the most of available garden space.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Alan TitchmarshGardening