Dill is sown in cool climate, and flowers when the times develop hotter – making the timing good for its umbrella-shaped blooms to draw pollinators, whereas defending your eggplant crop.
‘Bouquet’ dill is a productive early cultivar, and is able to harvest in 40 to 45 days. Simply be sure to let a few of the crops flower to reap the advantages supplied by helpful bugs.
‘Bouquet’ Dill
You’ll discover natural ‘Bouquet’ dill seeds for buy in three-gram packets at Botanical Pursuits.
Be taught extra about dill right here.
15. Garlic
One other member of the allium household intently associated to chives, onions, and leeks, garlic (Allium sativum) is grown for its pungent cloves, integral to quite a few culinary traditions.
However the identical pungency that makes it a helpful ingredient additionally repels a variety of problematic bugs within the backyard, together with many eggplant pests.
‘Inchelium Pink’ is a softneck garlic selection which may be planted in spring to offer its pest repellent providers within the backyard till harvest within the fall.
‘Inchelium Pink’ Garlic
You’ll discover half-pound packets of ‘Inchelium Pink’ garlic bulbs obtainable at Burpee.
Examine rising garlic right here.
16. Lettuce
A cool season leafy vegetable, there are various totally different sorts of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), a few of that are extra resilient than others in hotter climate.
Eggplant and lettuce may be good companions since lettuce doesn’t want a lot room within the backyard, and can assist function a floor cowl.
In the meantime eggplant foliage can assist shade the lettuce crops, retaining them cooler within the warmth of summer time.
‘Nevada’ lettuce is a inexperienced leaf selection that stands as much as summer time warmth and has scrumptious, ruffled leaves. Begin harvesting ‘Nevada’ in 55 days.
‘Nevada’ Lettuce
You’ll discover natural ‘Nevada’ lettuce seeds obtainable for buy in a large assortment of packet sizes at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Our information to rising lettuce has extra particulars.
17. Lovage
A member of the carrot household, lovage (Levisticum officinale) is a perennial herb with a taste considerably like that of its relative celery, however extra intense and somewhat distinctive.
Lovage flowers appeal to a bunch of helpful bugs, which can assist preserve pest populations at bay.
Lovage
You could find lovage seeds in an assortment of packet sizes obtainable at True Leaf Market.
Examine rising lovage right here.
18. Marigolds
Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are well-liked annual bedding flowers with brilliant orange, yellow, or pink blooms.
Along with attracting pollinators and helpful bugs, marigolds emit compounds that repel root-knot nematodes, a damaging underground pest that targets practically all backyard crops.
‘Pink Metamorph’ is a sort of French marigold that has deep pink petals surrounding yellow facilities. It produces blooms in 75 to 85 days.
‘Pink Metamorph’ Marigolds
Choose up a packet of 36 ‘Pink Metamorph’ marigold seeds at Botanical Pursuits.
Learn extra about find out how to develop marigolds.
19. Okra
Associated to hibiscus, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) thrives in sizzling, humid climates, producing pods that may be fried, or added to casseroles and conventional gumbos.
When okra is grown as an eggplant companion plant, total yields are elevated, particularly when one okra plant is grown for each three aubergine crops.
Make sure you plant the taller okra crops to the north, to stop shading out of the eggplants.
‘Clemson Spineless 80’ Okra
You could find okra seeds in an assortment of packet sizes at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Discover ways to develop okra right here.
20. Oregano
A basic mediterranean herb, oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a perennial herb with leaves that add earthy taste to pizzas, pasta sauces, and sandwiches.
Scrumptious as a seasoning, the pungent foliage of oregano acts as a pest repellent within the backyard, whereas its flowers appeal to pollinators.
Frequent Oregano
Discover packets of 800 frequent oregano seeds from Botanical Pursuits.
Our information to rising oregano has extra information.
21. Pole Beans
Like bush beans, pole beans (Phaseolus) can be grown as eggplant companion crops.
These nitrogen fixers assist enhance soil high quality, and may be educated to climb corn stalks if grown in another three sisters system as described above.
Simply be sure you situate these climbing greens in order that they don’t shade out your aubergine crop, as they each require full solar.
‘Northeaster’ pole beans are one in all my favourite quick season cultivars, producing buttery tasting, lengthy, flat pods.
‘Northeaster’ Pole Bean
You could find ‘Northeaster’ pole bean seeds obtainable at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
Discover ideas for rising pole beans right here.
22. Sesame
You could not but understand you may develop your individual provide of sesame seeds!
An annual herb grown for its deliciously nutty seeds, sesame (Sesamum indicum) is used to garnish breads, or the seeds are floor into that yummy mediterranean staple, tahini.
When grown with eggplant, sesame is simply as useful at defending eggplant crops from root-knot nematodes as marigolds.
Sesame
You may choose up a packet of 500 sesame seeds from Burpee.
Learn our ideas for rising sesame right here.
23. Candy Alyssum
Candy alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is an annual bedding plant with small white, purple, or pink flowers.
It grows right into a floor cowl, appearing as a dwelling mulch to cut back erosion and evaporation, whereas additionally offering flowers that tiny helpful bugs love.
In case you aren’t certain what coloration to select, why not strive Attract Pastel Mix which affords a mixture of purple, white, and pink flowers.
Attract Pastel Mix Candy Alyssum
You should purchase packets of Attract Pastel Mix candy alyssum seeds from Botanical Pursuits.
Find out about planting and rising candy alyssum right here.
24. Candy Potatoes
Candy potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are tubers grown for his or her scrumptious flesh that may be reworked into oven baked fries, muffins, or stir fries.
When candy potatoes are planted concurrently eggplant, the yield of each crops will increase.
‘Vardaman’ is a candy potato cultivar from Mississippi that produces tubers with deep, pink orange flesh.
‘Vardaman’ Candy Potatoes
‘Vardaman’ candy potato slips can be found in packs of 12 or 25 from Burpee.
Learn our information to rising candy potatoes subsequent.
25. Zinnias
Annual flowers which can be simply as welcome within the vegetable backyard as within the flower border, zinnias (Zinnia spp.) are available in each intensely brilliant hues, in addition to pastel tints.
The large blooms appeal to pollinators corresponding to bees, that are important to a bountiful crop yield, making these flowers pretty as eggplant companion crops.
One sort of zinnia with the most important blooms is California Giants, which options four- to six-inch flowers in shades orange, pink, purple, pink, white, and yellow.
California Giants Mix Zinnias
Buy two-gram packets of California Giants Mix zinnia seeds at Botanical Pursuits.
Try our information to rising zinnias right here.