Eggplant is a staple ingredient in countless dishes, from Italian parmigiana and French ratatouille to Indian curries and Egyptian moussaka. However, eggplant can be sensitive to soil conditions and grows best alongside supporting companion plants.
Marigolds are an ideal companion plant for eggplants as they help repel flea beetles while improving soil health by leaching toxins into the ground and suppressing harmful root-knot nematodes. Plus, their presence encourages pollinators to visit your eggplant patch, thus increasing crop yields!
Peas
Peas are excellent companion plants for eggplant as they add an abundance of nitrogen to the soil, are easy to cultivate, and can even be grown alongside it for space-saving efficiency. As legumes, peas attract pollinators while providing natural pest control throughout your garden – especially beneficial in deterring flea beetles and aphids that plague eggplant plants.
Garlic can serve as a helpful companion plant to eggplant. Its intense aroma repels pests such as aphids, thrips, and flea beetles naturally while helping keep soil healthy by preventing toxic fungus buildup that would hinder growth or deprive plants of flavor.
Vegetables in the nightshade family, such as tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, make ideal companions for growing eggplants. Their growing requirements overlap in many respects – well-draining soil with full sun for at least 6 hours daily is required, and no foliage from these other nightshades should compete for nutrients or shade out the eggplant foliage.
Low-growing leafy greens such as radishes, Swiss chard, and amaranth make great companions for eggplant because they provide shade during hot days while acting as a groundcover to prevent weeds and retain soil moisture for your eggplant to receive its essential nutrients. Basil, dill, and cilantro can also be grown alongside eggplant – their strong scents attract beneficial insects to keep harmful critters away from your garden!
Spinach
As a cool-weather crop, Spinach can provide eggplants with shade during summer. Furthermore, its nitrogen contributions to the soil are essential to their success; as ground cover plants, it can prevent water splashing onto lower leaves, which may otherwise lead to fungal disease outbreaks.
Garlic is an ideal companion plant for eggplants, as its strong scent repels many of their garden pests, such as aphids and flea beetles, that attack them. Oregano can also help ward off these predators, while French tarragon deters garden moths and flies. Cilantro may provide additional protection by repelling flies, although this herb must be controlled as it quickly becomes an invasive weed.
Legumes such as peas, beans, and soybeans make ideal companion plants for eggplants as heavy feeders need plenty of nutrition to thrive; legumes provide essential nitrogen replenishment in their soil when depleted. Furthermore, these vegetables share similar growing conditions and can easily co-exist.
Garlic
Although it may seem counter-intuitive to plant other vegetables or herbs near eggplants, many thrive when planted alongside each other in garden beds. Companion plants add nutrients, deter pests and diseases, and help the eggplant produce large, tasty fruits.
Garlic makes an ideal companion crop for eggplant because it repels common pests of both, fixes nitrogen into the soil, and provides food. Research has also demonstrated that intercropping garlic with eggplant increases yields by 2-6.0%.
Other onion family members, like leeks, scallions, and chives, also do well when planted alongside eggplant in double rows for maximum effectiveness. These vegetables provide additional nutrition to the soil while controlling weeds effectively – both elements being crucial components of garden success.
Oregano and thyme are excellent herbs to complement eggplant as they repel garden moths and aphids, deter spider mites, and keep nematodes at bay from your plants. Their flowers can also help attract pollinators and predatory insects that protect your vegetable garden.
Nasturtiums complement eggplant because their vibrant blooms attract pollinators and predatory insects that help control pest populations while adding beauty and charm to potager-style gardens.
Rosemary
Rosemary can help ward off Colorado potato beetles, an infestation that damages eggplant plants. Plus, this aromatic herb adds flavorful aromas when cooking with eggplants! Thyme, oregano, and chives also make great companions as they deter common garden pests like cabbage moths and carrot flies from appearing. Basil and cilantro provide more protection by preventing cabbage moths and carrot flies from appearing.
Kohlrabi makes an ideal companion plant for eggplants due to its natural insect-repelling properties and nutritional content, acting as both an insect deterrent and a source of essential minerals such as sulfur. Plant it around eggplants or intersperse it throughout your garden, as its presence helps combat fungal diseases that could otherwise plague eggplants, such as powdery mildew.
Green beans, peas, and pole or bush beans are nitrogen-fixing legumes that can be grown alongside eggplants and other vegetables to increase soil health and fertility and attract pollinators that could increase eggplant harvests.
Nasturtiums are another flowering vegetable that makes an excellent companion to eggplants, helping repel pests like aphids while providing an attractive ground cover. Furthermore, they act as natural fungicides against fungal diseases that could plague eggplants.
Broccoli
Broccoli leaves offer many culinary possibilities, ranging from stir fries to roast creations. But its main attraction lies within its head: the colorful florets provide color and texture in recipes and give a satisfying crunch in each bite! These parts of the plant also boast high amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants – offering nutritional benefits beyond culinary use alone!
Other greens make ideal companion plants for broccoli, such as spinach and radishes. Low-growing leafy herbs like sage and thyme make excellent ground cover, helping cool soil temperature, retain moisture, and smother weeds. Strongly-scented varieties such as rosemary, sage, and lavender deter pests that attack eggplants like flea beetles. At the same time, borage has gorgeous star-shaped blue flowers that attract pollinators while simultaneously repelling insects. Calendula or pot marigolds also help prevent vegetable diseases by protecting them from fungal infections that damage their surfaces or leaves.
Broccoli requires substantial fertilization to produce large heads of edible broccoli, making it an ideal partner plant for other crops that require lots of nitrogen, such as beans and tomatoes. A sprinkle of nitrogen-rich compost or manure should be worked into your planting area in early spring to boost soil fertility before sowing, considering the importance of keeping the soil consistently moist throughout its growing season.
Nasturtium
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) perennial plants feature an extended bloom season and come in shades like orange, red, yellow, and white. It is easy to care for and adds some color while simultaneously deterring pests such as nematodes, whiteflies and aphids from damaging eggplant plants.
These plants can serve as low-ground covers to retain soil moisture and control weed growth in the garden, saving space by being planted close to the ground while vegetables continue to flourish above them. This feature makes these plants perfect for those wanting to maximize garden space with minimal effort!
Leafy greens make an excellent companion plant to eggplants because they provide nutrients and shade during hot summer days. Many varieties of leafy greens can work well together, such as spinach, chard, amaranth, and kohlrabi; all provide good sources of nitrogen in your garden while deterring some pests like aphids, cabbage beetles, and flea beetles from damaging it further.
Marigolds are an ideal complement for eggplant plants. Marigolds’ yellow flowers repel insects such as nematodes, whiteflies, aphids, and others, which could damage eggplant crops while offering similar ground coverage and water retention benefits as nasturtiums.
