Yes. JoeBees is completely free to use, with no account required. Plan a raised bed, ask the AI gardening tutor questions, and print a take-outside sheet at no cost.

How big should my raised garden bed be?

A 4×8 foot raised bed is the most popular starter size. It gives you 32 square feet — enough for a varied salad, herb, and tomato mix — while staying narrow enough to reach the center from either side without stepping into the bed and compacting the soil.

What is square-foot gardening?

Square-foot gardening, popularized by Mel Bartholomew, divides a raised bed into 12-inch squares and assigns each square a set number of plants based on their mature size. JoeBees uses this method to maximize yield per square foot while preventing crowding and root competition.

Does JoeBees support companion planting?

Yes. JoeBees flags antagonistic pairings placed too close together and groups proven companions automatically. The AI layout tool also accounts for spacing, sun exposure, and your USDA hardiness zone.

🍅

Tomato

vegetable

Stake or cage. Avoid planting near brassicas — they stunt each other.

At a glance

USDA Zones: 3–11
Sun: Full sun (6+ hrs)
Water: Medium — water when top inch of soil is dry
Soil: loam, sandy
pH: acidic, neutral
Spacing: 24 in. between plants
SFG footprint: 2×2 ft cell footprint
Days to maturity: ~75 days

Planting & harvest windows

Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.

Activity	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Plant
Harvest

Plant Harvest

Good companions

🌿
Basil
Basil's aromatic oils help repel tomato hornworm and whiteflies; both love warmth and the same watering schedule.
🥕
Carrot
Tall tomatoes lightly shade carrots in summer, and carrots loosen soil around tomato roots.
🌼
Marigold
French marigolds release compounds (alpha-terthienyl) that suppress root-knot nematodes near tomato roots.
🥬
Lettuce
🧅
Onion
🌱
Parsley
🫛
Asparagus

Keep apart from

🥦
Brassica (general)
Both are heavy feeders that compete for nitrogen; brassicas can stunt tomatoes.
🌾
Fennel
Fennel releases compounds that inhibit tomato growth — keep fennel in its own corner.
🌽
Corn
They share the corn earworm / tomato fruitworm pest. Planting together amplifies infestations.
🥔
Potato
Both are nightshades and share early/late blight pathogens.

Recommended varieties

Better Boy
75 daysboth
Classic large red slicer. Disease-resistant and reliable.
Roma
75 daysboth
Meaty paste tomato — the go-to for sauce and salsa.
Sun Gold
65 daysboth
Sweet, candy-like orange cherry tomato. Very productive.
Cherokee Purple
80 daysboth
Rich, smoky heirloom with deep purple shoulders.
Early Girl
62 daysboth
Classic early-season red slicer. Sets fruit in cool weather.
Celebrity
70 daysboth
Disease-resistant, reliable medium slicer — great beginner tomato.
Brandywine
90 daysboth
Famous large pink heirloom with exceptional flavor.
Black Krim
85 daysboth
Dark-shouldered heirloom with rich, complex, slightly salty flavor.
Sweet 100
65 daysboth
Prolific red cherry tomato — hundreds of fruits per plant.
Juliet
60 daysboth
Plum-shaped mini tomato. Crack-resistant and very productive.
Mortgage Lifter
85 daysboth
Huge, meaty heirloom slicer bred to be nearly beefsteak-sized.

Add Tomato to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.

Open the planner →

← All plants Full companion chart →