Growing your own eggplants can feel like a huge achievement for any gardener! These notoriously slow-growing plants often fail to thrive and can be hindered by poor soil fertility, low pollination rates, and numerous garden pests. If your eggplants have been plagued by problems in the past, companion planting could be the answer.Eggplants thrive when grown alongside the right plants, benefiting from pest control, improved soil health, and better yields. Some plants help deter common eggplant pests like flea beetles and aphids or attract vital pollinators, while others enrich the soil with nutrients, suppress weeds, or provide beneficial shade.
Let’s take a look at the best eggplant companion plants.
Basil
The leaves and flowers of basil emit a pungent aroma that repels pests like aphids, spider mites, and hornworms. It also attracts pollinating insects and can enhance the flavor of your eggplant harvest.
Marigolds
can significantly decrease root-knot nematodes in the soil, boosting eggplant growth and increasing crop yields. Their bright blooms also attract pollinators and beneficial insects that feed on aphids, whiteflies, and flea beetles.
Nasturtiums
are the perfect companions for every vegetable garden. This fast-growing plant is a great trap crop, luring aphids and flea beetles away from eggplants. It can also deter whiteflies and provide ground cover to stabilize soil moisture and suppress weed growth.
Beans
All types of beans can boost soil nitrogen levels, which eggplants need for strong growth. Bush beans can be grown under taller eggplants as a ground cover, or a row of climbing pole beans can be planted behind each row of eggplants to act as a windbreak.
Peas
Like beans, peas help fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for additional fertilizers. Their leafy growth also acts as a living mulch, keeping soil temperatures stable and reducing moisture evaporation.
Spinach
Low-growing leafy spinach creates ground cover that helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. It also doesn’t compete heavily for nutrients with eggplants, making it a great pairing.
LettuceWith shallow roots, fast-growing lettuce grows well alongside eggplants without competing for nutrients. Your leafy lettuces will shade the soil, keeping it cool and moist and suppressing weed growth.
With shallow roots, fast-growing lettuce grows well alongside eggplants without competing for nutrients. Your leafy lettuces will shade the soil, keeping it cool and moist and suppressing weed growth.
Borage
is another must-have in the vegetable garden – this herb attracts bees and other pollinators, which helps improve eggplant fruit production. It also repels , a common eggplant pest that can decimate your crop.
Thyme
In midsummer, thyme flowers buzz with tiny predatory wasps and hoverflies that love to feast on garden pests. This is one of the best herbs you can grow to boost biodiversity in your garden.
Oregano
Garlic
The sulfur compounds released by garlic can repel aphids and spider mites, as well as reduce the risk of fungal diseases in eggplants.
Radishes
Fast-growing break up compact soil, improving aeration and drainage for eggplant roots. They also provide ground cover, helping to prevent weed growth and reduce moisture loss.
Catnip
The aroma of catnip is thought to be a strong deterrent for flea beetles, which commonly attack eggplants. Remember that catnip, a member of the mint family, can spread aggressively, so it’s best grown in containers.
Tarragon
The delightful aroma of tarragon helps mask eggplants from harmful insects while attracting vital pollinators that boost your harvests.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a strong-scented herb that repels whiteflies and spider mites, two common eggplant pests.
Cilantro
Cilantro can attract beneficial predatory insects like hoverflies and ladybugs, which help control aphid populations near eggplants.
Grow Juicier, Tastier Tomatoes with These 15 Companion Plants
Companion planting is an age-old gardening method that can help prevent common plant issues and boost crop yields. By using some of the best companion plants for tomatoes, your harvests will be better than ever. Here are the 15 best companion plants for your tomato garden.
