Eggplant is a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be used in a variety of recipes. It is also easy to grow in the home garden. When planting eggplant, it is important to consider what other plants should be planted alongside it to maximize its growth and yield. The right companion plants can help to provide shade, improve soil fertility, attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and even deter pests. This article will discuss what to plant with eggplant in order to achieve the best results.
Herbs to Plant with Eggplant
Eggplants can be a great addition to any vegetable garden, but they also pair perfectly with several types of herbs. Adding herbs to your eggplant patch can help deter pests, attract beneficial insects, and add flavor to your harvest. Here are some of the best herbs to plant alongside eggplants:
Basil is perhaps the most popular herb for pairing with eggplant. Its strong aroma can help repel harmful insects and its flavor will add an extra zing when you fry or grill your eggplant. It’s also easy to grow from seed or cuttings.
Oregano is another delicious herb that pairs well with eggplant. Its pungent aroma will keep pests away and it adds a unique flavor when used as a topping for grilled or roasted eggplant slices. It’s best grown from cuttings, so you can take a cutting from an established plant and use it in your garden.
Rosemary is an aromatic herb that adds an earthy flavor to grilled or fried eggplant dishes. It’s also known for being a natural pest repellent, so planting it around your eggplants will help keep away any unwanted critters. Rosemary prefers dry soil, so make sure you water it sparingly.
Thyme is another herb that pairs well with eggplant dishes. Its subtle lemony taste adds a unique flavor when added as a topping for grilled or fried eggplants. Thyme prefers warm weather and well-drained soil, so make sure you water it regularly and provide plenty of sunlight.
These are just some of the herbs that pair well with eggplants and will add flavor and pest protection to your garden. Try planting some of these herbs alongside your favorite varieties of eggplants this season!
Vegetables to Plant with Eggplant
Eggplants are a great addition to any vegetable garden, and they have many companion plants that can help them grow. Many of these companion plants offer protection from pests and prevent diseases from spreading. Here are some of the best vegetables to plant with eggplant:
Tomatoes: Tomatoes and eggplants are often grown together since they both require similar growing conditions. They also have a symbiotic relationship in which tomatoes can help protect eggplants from pests like aphids and flea beetles.
Peppers: Peppers and eggplants are also often planted together since they both require well-drained soil and full sun exposure. Peppers will also help keep away pest insects that may be attracted to eggplants.
Onions: Onions can be planted around the base of your eggplant plants to help repel aphids, flea beetles, and other common pests. Onions also produce sulfur compounds which can act as a natural fungicide for your eggplant plants.
Garlic: Garlic is another great companion for eggplant as it helps repel several common garden pests such as aphids, caterpillars, slugs, and whiteflies. It will also keep away some diseases that may affect your eggplant plants.
Marigolds: Marigolds are often planted with vegetables as they have strong scents that help repel many common garden pests including nematodes, whiteflies, and slugs. They also attract beneficial pollinators to your garden such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
These are just a few of the vegetables you can plant with eggplant in your vegetable garden for pest control and disease prevention. By planting these vegetables together you can create a healthy environment for your plants to thrive in!
Companion Planting with Eggplant
Eggplants are a delicious and versatile vegetable to include in the garden. They are also easy to grow, with a few key companion plants that will help them thrive. When pairing eggplant with other fruits and vegetables, it’s important to consider each plant’s individual needs, as well as which plants can provide beneficial nutrients for the eggplant. Here are some of the best companion plants to pair with eggplants in your garden.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes are a classic companion for eggplants, as they both require similar growing conditions and have similar nutrient requirements. Tomatoes will provide shade for the eggplants, which can help protect them from direct sunlight during hot summer days. Tomatoes can also help attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, helping your eggplant crop thrive.
Peppers: Peppers are another great companion for eggplants. Like tomatoes, peppers require similar growing conditions and will provide some extra shade to protect the eggplant from direct sunlight. Peppers can also attract beneficial pollinators, helping your eggplant crop flourish.
Onions: Onions are an excellent companion plant for eggplants because they can provide extra nitrogen to the soil. Onions also produce a strong smell that deters certain pests from attacking the eggplant crop. Onions can also be planted alongside other vegetables like tomatoes or peppers for an added layer of protection against pests.
Basil: Basil is another excellent companion plant for eggplants because it attracts beneficial insects like bees that help pollinate the flowers of the eggplant crop. Basil can also help deter certain pests from attacking the crop by masking its scent and taste.
Garlic: Garlic is another great companion plant for eggplants because it repels certain insect pests while providing additional nitrogen to enrich soil around the plants. It also helps improve soil structure and drainage when planted near other vegetables like tomatoes or peppers.
These are just a few of many different fruits and vegetables that you can pair with your eggplant crop in order to create a thriving garden ecosystem that will produce delicious and healthy fruits and vegetables all season long!
Companion Planting with Eggplant
Eggplants are a delicious vegetable that can be grown in a wide range of climates. If you’re looking to maximize your eggplant harvest, consider companion planting with other vegetables and flowers. Companion planting is the practice of growing different species of plants close together for mutual benefit. Here are some great flowers to plant alongside your eggplants for maximum growth and flavor.
Marigold is one of the most beneficial flowers to grow alongside eggplants. Marigolds release a natural pesticide that repels destructive pests like aphids, tomato hornworms, and Colorado potato beetles. Plant marigolds around the perimeter of your eggplant patch to keep pests away from your plants.
Nasturtiums are not only beautiful, they also act as a natural repellent for cucumber beetles and squash bugs, two pests that commonly attack eggplants. Plant nasturtiums around the edges of your eggplant patch to help protect it from insect damage.
Borage is an herb that releases an aroma that attracts beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs to your garden. Borage also helps improve soil fertility, making it perfect for companion planting with eggplants.
Lavender is another great flower for companion planting with eggplants. Lavender releases an aroma that repels many harmful insects, including cabbage worms and cabbage loopers, both of which can damage your eggplants if left unchecked. Lavender also helps attract beneficial pollinators like honeybees and bumblebees to your garden, which will help increase the yield of your eggplant harvest.
These are just some of the many flowers you can plant alongside your eggplants to help maximize their growth and flavor potential. Companion planting is an easy way to increase the health and productivity of your garden while also making it more beautiful at the same time!
Starting Eggplant Seeds
Starting eggplant seeds is the first step in planting eggplants. Planting indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date is recommended. Sow the seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed starting mix and keep them consistently moist until germination occurs, which can take up to two weeks. Once the seedlings appear, provide enough light to prevent them from getting leggy and weak. At this point, fertilizing weekly with a diluted liquid fertilizer can help to ensure vigorous growth.
Transplanting Eggplants
When transplanting eggplants outdoors, wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have reached at least 60°F (15°C). Choose a location with full sun (6-8 hours of sunlight) and well-drained soil. To prepare the soil, add compost or aged manure to increase fertility and organic matter content. When planting out the seedlings, space them 18-24 inches apart in rows that are 3-4 feet apart for larger varieties or 12-18 inches for smaller varieties.
Mulching
Mulching is an important step in growing eggplants successfully as it helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. Apply a layer of organic mulch such as straw or shredded bark around the base of each plant after transplanting. The mulch should be at least 2 inches thick and should be kept away from the stem of each plant to avoid rotting.
Watering
Eggplants require consistent watering throughout the growing season to ensure healthy fruit production. Provide about an inch of water per week, either through rain or irrigation, depending on weather conditions. Avoid overhead watering as it can lead to fungal diseases such as blight or wilt.
Pest Management
Various insects can cause damage to eggplant leaves and fruits such as flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles and aphids. To keep these pests under control, remove any affected foliage from your plants and consider using floating row covers or insecticidal soaps if necessary.
Harvesting
Eggplants are typically ready for harvest when they reach their full size (about 4-6 inches long). To test for ripeness gently press your finger against the skin – it should give slightly but not dent easily. Cut off ripe fruits with a sharp knife leaving some stem attached for best flavor and store them in a cool place away from direct sunlight.<