Companion Plants for Eggplant
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Choosing the right companion plants for eggplant can mean the difference between a thriving garden and a struggling crop. Companion planting is a traditional gardening method that uses strategic plant pairings to enhance growth, deter pests, and improve soil health.
Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, and while it has its own unique growing requirements, it also shares vulnerabilities like pests and disease susceptibility. With thoughtful planning, you can surround your eggplant with helpful plant allies that protect and support it.
Why Companion Planting Matters for Eggplant
Eggplants are heavy feeders and long-season crops that require consistent care. They thrive in full sun, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and warm temperatures. While they are rewarding to grow, eggplants can be challenging due to common pests like flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, and Colorado potato beetles. They are also prone to fungal issues if conditions are damp and air circulation is poor. Companion planting addresses these challenges by:
- Naturally deterring pests with strong-scented herbs or trap crops
- Attracting beneficial insects like pollinators and predatory bugs
- Maximizing use of garden space through different plant heights and growth patterns
- Enhancing soil quality through nutrient fixing or mulch-like coverage
- Reducing the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides
Let’s explore the most beneficial companions for eggplant and how to use them effectively.
Check out this month by month garden planting guide for when to plant what.
Best Companion Plants for Eggplant
Beans, especially bush beans and pole beans, are nitrogen-fixing legumes. They form a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use. Since eggplants are heavy feeders that love nitrogen-rich soil, planting beans nearby can provide a natural nutrient boost. Bush beans won’t shade out eggplant and also deter Colorado potato beetles, a notorious eggplant pest.
French Marigolds are among the most valuable companions for eggplant. Their strong scent repels aphids, flea beetles, nematodes, and whiteflies. Marigolds also attract ladybugs and lacewings—beneficial insects that feed on pest larvae. Plant marigolds in a ring around your eggplants or intersperse them between plants. Their bright blooms add color to your garden and create a healthy, biodiverse environment.
Nasturtiums are excellent trap crops. Their soft leaves and vibrant flowers attract aphids, flea beetles, and whiteflies away from eggplant. While they sacrifice themselves to protect your main crop, they also provide low ground cover that conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Nasturtiums can trail along garden beds or grow in containers near your eggplants.
Borage is a flowering herb that attracts bees, wasps, and other pollinators while deterring tomato hornworms and other pests. Its deep roots help break up compacted soil, improving structure and drainage. Borage is also believed to enhance the flavor and growth of nearby vegetables, including eggplant. Its beautiful blue flowers make it a favorite for aesthetic and ecological value.
Spinach and Lettuce do well in partial shade and have shallow roots that don’t compete with eggplant. They serve as living mulch by covering the soil, retaining moisture, and preventing weeds. Planting lettuce or spinach under or between eggplant rows helps fill in garden space and makes efficient use of your garden footprint.
Like beans, peas are legumes that improve nitrogen content in the soil. While their growing season may not completely overlap with eggplant in warm climates, in cooler zones, early peas can be harvested before the eggplant matures. This pairing works well in gardens where crop succession is practiced, ensuring that soil nutrients are replenished before your eggplants need them most.
Thyme is a low-growing, fragrant herb that acts as a natural pest repellent. It deters garden moths and flea beetles. It’s also drought-tolerant and won’t compete for water. Thyme can be planted along the edges of raised beds or between eggplant rows to serve as ground cover and pest protection.
Oregano, another strong-scented herb, provides pest-deterring oils that protect eggplants from insect attacks. It also attracts beneficial predatory insects. As a perennial in many zones, oregano can be planted around the perimeter of your garden or in nearby containers to avoid crowding the eggplant.
Dill attracts parasitic wasps and ladybugs, which feed on aphids, caterpillars, and other pests. While dill should not be planted too close to some crops like carrots or tomatoes, it pairs well with eggplant when spaced appropriately. Letting dill flower boosts biodiversity and supports your garden ecosystem.
Also known as pot marigold, calendula produces nectar-rich flowers that attract pollinators and beneficial insects. It also exudes a sticky substance from its stems that traps small pests like aphids and thrips. Calendula is easy to grow and does well in similar conditions to eggplant.
Catnip is a mint family member known to repel flea beetles and aphids. It has been successfully used as a natural pest repellent around eggplants and other nightshades. Keep in mind that cats are attracted to it, so it may not be ideal if neighborhood cats visit your garden.
Sunflowers can serve as a windbreak or light shade buffer for eggplants growing in extremely hot summer conditions. They also attract pollinators and draw aphids away from other vegetables. Use sunflowers strategically to create microclimates in your garden.
What Not to Plant with Eggplant
While many plants benefit eggplants, some do more harm than good. Avoid planting the following near your eggplants:
Fennel releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of many plants, including eggplant. Keep fennel in its own section of the garden.
Corn is a heavy feeder and may compete with eggplants for nitrogen and space. It can also harbor similar pests, like aphids and beetles, leading to increased pest pressure.
Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale) prefer different soil conditions and can host pests that also affect eggplants. Their growth habits may also crowd out your eggplant.
As a fellow nightshade, potatoes share many of the same diseases and pests as eggplants. Planting them together can increase the risk of blight and beetle infestations. Additionally, potatoes deplete soil nutrients quickly.
Companion Plants for Nightshades
For more ideas on companion planting for nightshades, check out these guides:
Planting Layout Ideas
To effectively implement companion planting, it helps to visualize the layout. Here are a few simple ideas for designing your eggplant bed:
- Option 1: Border Method
Plant a border of marigolds and nasturtiums around your eggplant bed to protect from pests. Fill in gaps with oregano, thyme, or dill. - Option 2: Intercropping
Alternate rows of eggplant with rows of bush beans or lettuce. This allows for airflow and minimizes nutrient competition while maximizing space. - Option 3: Three Sisters-Inspired
Use a vertical structure like a trellis to grow pole beans at the back of your bed, eggplants in the middle, and low-growing thyme or spinach at the front. - Option 4: Container Garden
If you’re short on space, grow eggplants in large containers and surround them with herbs like oregano, basil, or thyme. Place marigold pots nearby.
Because eggplants are prone to pests early in the season, companion plants should be sown or transplanted at the same time as or before the eggplants to offer immediate protection.
✔Here’s a link to a great vegetable garden planner you can print right out and use at home! So cute!
Pollination and Yield Boost
While eggplants are self-pollinating, insect activity increases pollination rates and yields. Flowers from borage, calendula, dill, and marigolds all attract pollinators like bees and hoverflies. Keeping these flowers nearby helps ensure good fruit development and a larger harvest.
Pest Management Without Chemicals
Companion plants play a big role in integrated pest management (IPM). Here’s how specific plants help deter key eggplant pests:
- Flea beetles: Repelled by catnip, marigolds, thyme
- Aphids: Attracted to nasturtiums (trap), controlled by dill, borage, and calendula
- Spider mites: Deterred by increased airflow from proper spacing and repelled by strong herbs
- Colorado potato beetle: Deterred by bush beans and catnip
- Cutworms: Prevent with collars and by interplanting with thyme or sage
Benefits for Soil Health
Some companion plants also help maintain healthy soil:
- Beans and peas: Fix nitrogen
- Borage and sunflowers: Break up compacted soil
- Low-growing herbs and lettuce: Act as living mulch
- Crop rotation with legumes: Reduces nutrient depletion
After harvesting eggplant, plant a cover crop like clover or hairy vetch to replenish nitrogen and prevent erosion.
Companion planting for eggplant isn’t just about increasing yields, it’s about creating a more resilient, balanced, and beautiful garden. By surrounding your eggplants with helpful herbs, flowers, and vegetables, you protect them from pests, support pollination, and improve soil health, all without relying on synthetic chemicals.
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned gardener, experimenting with companion planting brings joy, biodiversity, and sustainability to your growing space. Eggplants may be picky, but with the right neighbors, they thrive, and so will your garden. From beans to borage, marigolds to mint, the right companions can help your eggplant say goodbye to bugs and hello to a bountiful harvest.
