Gardening Myth Busted: Basil Doesn't Infuse Flavor into Tomatoes, Study Confirms

A recent social media video has challenged a long-held gardening belief, asserting that planting basil next to tomatoes does not enhance the tomatoes' flavor. Gardener Grant Skowronski, in his viral video, directly addresses this common misconception, stating, "Basil won't magically make your tomatoes taste like basil." He further elaborates by asking, "If that was true, wouldn't my bell pepper taste like onion?" to highlight the illogical nature of the flavor infusion theory. Skowronski supports his claim by citing a double-blind study conducted over three years, which, according to him, "found no preference for tomatoes grown alone versus planted next to basil." The video concludes by revealing the actual benefit of this companion planting strategy: "Basil attracts beneficial bugs to your garden." Skowronski's content aims to provide science-backed gardening information, encouraging viewers to move beyond unsubstantiated myths for more effective horticultural practices.

The Cool Down

16 days ago

Gardener reveals true benefits of misunderstood planting hack: 'There is a good…

For generations, gardeners have been told that planting basil near tomatoes infuses the fruit with flavor.