Eggplant Companion Plants

Growing eggplants with other plants can enhance their growth and deter pests, but not all plants are the same.

Eggplant companion plants range from herbs and flowers to other vegetables, improving the health of eggplants and, in the end, the harvest. Also, some plants don't go well with eggplants, and those plants should not be grown together.

Published: January 17, 2023.

eggplants companion plants 1

Most Popular Eggplant Companion Plants

There are many plants that can be grown with or near eggplants that can be rather beneficial to eggplants - some of these plants attract pollinators, some repel aphids and other pests, other plants attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, while some other plants improve the soil by binding the nitrogen or slow down moisture evaporation and fight the weeds.

Most popular companion plants for eggplants include herbs, flowers, and even vegetables like basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chamomile, lavender, sage, catnip, mints, sunflower, kohlrabi, beans, etc.

Note: while some plants can be grown in the same garden patch or pot with eggplants, other companion plants can be grown in their own pots and kept nearby.

However, it is important to avoid growing plants that are heavy feeders and compete with eggplants for nutrients, water, and sun and that don't have the same pests and diseases as eggplants.

Basil

basil

Basil is a fragrant herb that can help to repel insects and enhance the flavor of eggplants when grown nearby.

Borage

borage

Borage is a flowering herb that is believed to deter tomato worms and other pests, making it a good companion plant for eggplants.

Marigolds

marigold

Marigolds are brightly colored annuals that are believed to deter many types of pests, including aphids, nematodes, and beetles. They can also help to attract pollinators, which can improve the yield of your eggplants.

Mints

Mints repel various pests, especially flea beetles. But mints tend to spread easily, becoming very invasive - just in case, grow them in their own pots near eggplants and other plants that need additional protection from pests.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are colorful annual flowers believed to deter aphids and other pests. They can also help to attract pollinators and improve the yield of your eggplants.

Oregano

Oregano is a fragrant herb that can help to repel insects and enhance the flavor of eggplants when grown nearby.

Parsley

parsley

Parsley is a versatile herb that is believed to deter asparagus beetles and other pests, making it a good companion plant for eggplants. Parsley grows well in smaller pots and containers and can be kept near the eggplants, just in case.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a fragrant herb that can help to repel insects and enhance the flavor of eggplants when grown nearby.

Thyme

thyme 1

Thyme repels aphids, garden months, and other pests and can be grown in its pots, with the soil optimized for thyme.

Spinach

spinach harvest w600px

Spinach, lettuce, and similar plants can be grown with eggplants - they are not heavy feeders and have relatively shallow roots. As such, they are grown with eggplants as ground covers that reduce moisture evaporation and fight weeds.

Beans

bush beans

Beans and green beans (both pole and bush beans), peas, and similar plants from the legume family fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, making the soil more fertile.

Also, beans can repel Colorado potato beetles which also affects eggplants.

On the other hand, when planting pole beans (or pole green beans), be sure to plant eggplants in front of the beans regarding the sun.

Note: catnip is another popular eggplant companion, but the peas and beans don't go well with catnip, which can negatively affect them.

Obviously, there are many other plants that can benefit eggplants when grown nearby by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, improving the growing conditions, etc., including carrots, calendula, dill, chives, garlic, peppers, onions, radish, kohlrabi, etc.


Plants to Avoid

When growing eggplants, there are also some plants that should be avoided.

Plants like peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and other plants from the nightshades family should not be grown together - they don't harm each other directly, but they have similar requirements, and when grown nearby, they compete for the same resources.

Also, they share the same pests and diseases, so having them all on the same garden patch can attract even more pests.

Similarly, corn, melons, pumpkins, zucchinis, and eggplants are all heavy feeders, and they should not be planted nearby. Also, corn can overgrow eggplants, and eggplants like full sun.

zucchini

But, there are other plants that may harm eggplants and should be completely avoided if You want to have eggplant harvest. These plants include:

  • Fennel inhibits growth in many plants, eggplants included,
  • Geraniums may host diseases like root rot and leaf blight that also affect eggplants, tomatoes, and other similar plants,
  • Black walnut and other allelopathic trees inhibit the growth and germination underneath them, etc.

Few Final Words

two eggplants w500px

Plants are like people - not all plants are compatible with one another.

Eggplants can benefit from growing with certain plants, especially if You want to keep the use of pesticides and fungicides (even organic ones) to a minimum.

Also, crop rotation is very important, so don't grow the eggplants on the same soil patch where tomatoes, potatoes and other nightshades were grown in the past 3-4 years.