Choosing Companion Plants for Eggplants: 7 Great Picks and Avoidables

Eggplants can yield up to a dozen fruits per plant, depending on variety and conditions. However, factors such as pests, diseases, and poor weather can impact your harvest significantly.

One effective strategy is companion planting, which pairs eggplants with beneficial plants that promote growth and reduce pest issues.

This guide outlines the best companion plants for eggplants and those to steer clear of. We highlight seven excellent companions and explain their advantages, along with the potential risks of unsuitable plant pairings while growing eggplant.

Top 7 Companion Plants for Eggplants

To enhance your garden's productivity, consider these vegetables, herbs, and flowers that thrive alongside eggplants.

Beans

Eggplants benefit from being paired with legumes like beans, which enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen. This nutrient boost supports healthy growth and increased fruit production.

Whether you choose pole or bush beans, they will provide nitrogen, ensuring your eggplants thrive. Alternatively, peas can also serve as a nitrogen-fixing companion.

Dill

Dill can deter armyworms, a common pest of eggplants. Its aroma attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and lacewings, which control pest populations.

Marigolds

Planting marigolds is essential in vegetable gardens for their pest-repelling properties. Their fragrance deters aphids, whiteflies, and other pests, while their roots combat root-knot nematodes.

French marigolds, known for their strong scent, are ideal for planting near eggplants, or you can grow them in pots.

Onions

Onions and other alliums are excellent companions for eggplants due to their ability to repel numerous pests. Their strong scent wards off aphids, beetles, and cutworms, safeguarding your eggplants.

As shallow-rooting crops, onions won't compete for nutrients with eggplants, allowing both to flourish. Garlic, leeks, and chives also work well for pest deterrence.

Oregano

Oregano is a fantastic herb that benefits eggplants in two ways. It attracts beneficial insects like bees for pollination and repels pests such as aphids and spider mites.

Potatoes

Though it may seem unusual, eggplants and potatoes can thrive together. Both are nightshades with similar soil and sunlight needs, making them compatible companions.

Peppers are another good match for eggplants, sharing similar growth requirements. Just remember to rotate nightshades annually to minimize disease risks.

Spinach

Eggplants also serve as good companions for spinach, providing shade during summer and preventing bolting. Both plants prefer nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, and their different root depths allow them to coexist without competition.

Plants to Avoid with Eggplants

Not all plants pair well with eggplants. Heavy feeders like melons, corn, and cucumbers compete for nutrients, which can hinder eggplant growth.

Avoid pairing eggplants with fennel, as it can stunt growth, and geraniums, which are known to negatively affect eggplants.

FAQs

Can eggplants and cucumbers be planted together?

Eggplants and cucumbers are not ideal companions due to their shared status as heavy feeders, leading to nutrient competition.

Can eggplants and tomatoes be planted together?

Like cucumbers, tomatoes are also heavy feeders and share similar pest vulnerabilities, making them unsuitable companions for eggplants.

Companion planting is a valuable strategy to boost eggplant health and yield. However, proper nutrition is also crucial. Eggplants thrive on nutrient-rich soil to produce quality fruits.

Fertilize eggplants with a balanced slow-release feed during seedling transplanting, followed by a high-phosphorus, high-potassium liquid feed as fruiting begins. A tomato fertilizer is effective when applied every 2-4 weeks.