It can be hard to tell when tomatoes and other vegetables need water. The dead giveaway is when you start to see your plants wilt, but if you let them get to that point you’ve already waited too long.
You’ve probably heard of the finger test—you know, when you stick your index finger about an inch (2.5 cm) into the soil near the base of a plant to see if it’s damp or dry. But if you’re looking for an even easier way to tell when it’s time to water, then indicator plants are a simple solution that can also add beauty to your garden beds.
There are certain flowers to plant with tomatoes that tell you when it’s time to water before your veggies ever start to wilt, and there’s one common flower that works especially well. Let’s take a look at this easy-to-grow indicator plant that will help you keep veggies hydrated and add pretty pastel blooms to your landscape.
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The Ultimate Indicator Plant for Veggies
There are a lot of tomato companion plants that serve a variety of purposes. Some help repel pests, like marigolds, and others can even improve the flavor of your fruits, like basil. However, there’s one often overlooked annual flower that can tell you exactly when to water your tomatoes: impatiens.
Impatiens are lovely, low-maintenance annuals that thrive in shade. These easy-care annuals are available just about anywhere during the spring and summer months. They are classic container plants that add charm to windowboxes, hanging baskets, and porch pots, but they look beautiful in garden borders as well.
Though people typically grow impatiens for their cheery, colorful blooms, these tropical flowers have a secret power. If you plant impatiens in a pot or out in your vegetable garden or in a raised bed with your tomatoes, they will let you know when it’s time to give your veggies a drink.
Tomatoes and many other vegetables need to dry out almost to the point of no return before they ever show signs of wilting. However, impatiens wilt as soon as the soil starts to dry out and perk up quickly once you water them. That’s what makes them the ideal indicator plant.
How to Use Impatiens as Indicator Plants
To use impatiens as indicator plants that tell you when to water your vegetable garden, plant one at the base of your tomatoes or other vegetables. There are tons of stunning impatiens you can buy from just about any big box store or nursery. Home Depot has a great selection of impatiens, including a gorgeous double bloom cultivar called ‘Rockapulco Red’ that almost looks like a mini rose bush.
You can grow impatiens in an in-ground vegetable garden, raised beds, or a container garden. Just make sure to plant the impatiens close enough to your tomatoes or other vegetables, so they will receive some shade from the larger plant.
Most vegetables, like tomatoes, need full sun to thrive. That means 6-8 hours of direct light per day. Impatiens, however, prefer shady conditions. They need only 2-6 hours of sun or dappled light throughout the day.
If you’re worried about impatiens receiving too much sun in your vegetable garden, there is a sun-loving hybrid variety called SunPatiens you can try. This purple SunPatiens 3-pack from Home Depot would provide a truly wow-worthy pop of color against all the green of the vegetable garden.
As you check on your garden or container plants, look for signs of wilting in your impatiens. If the flowers’ leaves or blooms look like they are starting to droop, then it’s time to water. It’s really as easy as that! I’ve loved impatiens for a long time and grow them in my windowboxes every year, so I’m excited to find a new way to use these amazing annual flowers.
Other Indicator Plants for Tomatoes
If you’re not a fan of impatiens, there are a couple other indicator plants you can use to tell when to water tomatoes and other vegetables. Coleus is another annual plant that droops easily and then quickly recovers after watering. Like impatiens, coleus prefers shade so you will need to grow it close enough to tomatoes to provide your indicator plant with some sun protection.
Ajuga is another option, though this ground cover plant is a perennial. It also has a tendency to become invasive. It’s an aggressive grower that can take over your garden, so it’s not the best option as a companion plant.
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