Let’s figure out how to intelligently “populate” the entire soil in a greenhouse with vegetables, and at the same time increase productivity.
To get record harvests, residents of the northern regions have to grow heat-loving crops in protected soil. Since building a greenhouse takes a lot of time, effort and finances, we try to use the soil as economically as possible. Therefore, we plant vegetables close to each other.
The wrong choice of neighbors can lead to significant crop losses. To prevent this, you need to carefully consider the design of the beds.
In protected soil, gardeners most often grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplants. But I really want to plant at least a couple of other crops in the empty plots of land. Some plants coexist peacefully with each other, but particularly capricious “invaders” can slow down the development of the main vegetables growing in the greenhouse.
The influence of “neighbors” in the garden on productivity
You should be careful when selecting neighbors for eggplants in a greenhouse. It has long been known that vegetable crops react differently to each other. Some make friends, helping to repel pests with the help of aroma. Some begin to compete for light or moisture.
Attention! When growing several types of vegetables in limited space, improper selection of neighbors can lead to a significant reduction in yield. Or even to the death of seedlings if they are affected by common diseases or pests.
Compatibility of eggplants with other crops in a greenhouse
Before deciding where it is best to plant eggplants next to in a greenhouse, you need to remember the main characteristics of the “little blue ones” and the requirements for their growing conditions.
- There are not many tall varieties of eggplant, but they need a lot of sun to actively bear fruit. This means that it is better to choose vegetables that form low bushes as neighbors. Or resort to some tricks to zone a small space.
- Eggplants love abundant watering; while pouring fruit, the top layer of soil should be constantly moist. At the same time, they do not tolerate high air humidity. In a microclimate that is too humid, the ovaries often rot and fall.
- Eggplants in a greenhouse are often attacked by aphids and spider mites. They are prone to diseases such as powdery mildew, fusarium, late blight, and gray rot. Cucumbers and tomatoes often experience approximately the same problems.
Bad neighborhood
Then plant eggplants
Experienced gardeners know that eggplants do not grow well next to nightshade crops. This is due to the condition of the soil layer. In a short period of time the land will be dried out. Numerous feedings will help correct the situation a little.
And if there are eggplants and tomatoes next to each other, problems may arise in terms of watering. The former require regular and abundant watering. That is, the farmer is at a crossroads: either the eggplants will dry out or the tomatoes will rot.
How can you plant eggplants in a greenhouse?
The ideal option is to grow such a capricious crop as eggplant in a separate greenhouse. But if this is not possible, then you can plant eggplants in a greenhouse next to vegetables, which also require abundant watering and will not shade the plants.
- Peppers and eggplants grow well next to each other in the same greenhouse. Plants do not compete with each other. They form bushes of approximately the same height. They require abundant watering and fertilizing of similar composition. The periods of planting in a permanent place and the time of fruiting coincide for crops. All this makes care much easier. You just have to remember that eggplants are compatible with sweet Bulgarian varieties. Hot peppers cannot be planted next to the “blue” ones.
- Compatibility in one greenhouse between cucumbers and eggplants is somewhat lower. On the one hand, cucumbers are tall plants with shoots covered with large leaves. To prevent vegetables from interfering with each other, they try to plant eggplants on the south side, and cucumbers on the north. On the other hand, cucumber leaf plates release a lot of moisture into the air. Therefore, after watering, you need to ventilate the greenhouse.
You can also plant dill, basil, parsley, and radishes in the greenhouse next to the eggplants. We are not talking about constantly growing them in closed beds. But in the spring months, such a proximity is quite possible to obtain an early harvest of greens and spicy root vegetables. Chinese cabbage is also a good companion for eggplants.
Unwanted neighbors
In addition to useful crops, there are plants whose proximity is harmful to eggplants. In this case, not only the yield decreases, but all plantings may die.
Fennel
The culture grows a powerful root system and ground part. Therefore, it should not be planted with light-loving eggplants. Fennel will take away moisture and sunlight from them.
Potato
Cultures belong to the same family. Therefore, planting potatoes and eggplants together is fraught with crop loss. It can be destroyed by a common plant pest – the Colorado potato beetle.
In addition, if one of the crops becomes infected with a fungus, there is a high probability of infection of the other. This will happen due to similar diseases found in the nightshade family.
Tomatoes
This is another relative of the eggplant. Therefore, joint plantings are undesirable. Tomatoes are less moisture-loving. And, if you water plants planted together, the tomatoes can become infected with fungus due to excess moisture.
Pumpkin
This vegetable grows long lashes that stretch in all directions. Pumpkin shoots can choke out eggplant beds.
It is especially risky if the crops are grown by a summer resident who visits the site only on weekends. During the week that he is not in the garden, the pumpkin with its lashes can destroy young eggplant seedlings.
Good and bad predecessors of eggplants in a greenhouse
If you just have to select and install a greenhouse, then choose areas where peas, beans, and corn previously grew. Their roots loosen the soil well and enrich it with oxygen. Spices, carrots, and beets can be considered neutral crops.
You should not plant eggplants after other nightshade and melon crops. They take a lot of nutrients. The soil must be restored over several years. It is difficult to ensure crop rotation in greenhouses. Organic and mineral fertilizers come to the rescue of vegetable growers.
Interesting fact! In the spring, before planting the “little blue ones” in the greenhouse, you can safely sow onions, dill, radishes, and various types of salads. They will have time to ripen and will not have a negative effect on the eggplants.
The nuances of joint cultivation
Tomatoes and eggplants are similar in structure and growing conditions, and are susceptible to the same diseases and pests. Their growing season and seed sowing time practically coincide. Both crops require well-drained soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. The optimal temperature for growing is from 21 °C to 29 °C.
REFERENCE: Tomato vines and eggplant bushes are part of the nightshade family and are toxic.
These and other nuances should be taken into account when growing crops together. On the other hand, eggplants:
- They are more demanding on the amount of heat, and tomatoes wilt at temperatures above 32 °C.
- Eggplants literally die due to insufficient moisture, while tomatoes are quite drought-resistant and prefer moderate watering.
- Eggplants grow in voluminous bushes and require greater distance between rows, and tomatoes with their vertical, tall growth unfavorably shade the space.
Landing rules
There are several points that will help you grow several types of vegetables in one greenhouse.
- First of all, this is zoning using film or polycarbonate. Many people simply block greenhouses across. True, long structures will be difficult to ventilate.
- It is also important to maintain the distance between the ridges. It is 0.6-1.0 m and largely depends on the intended neighbors of the eggplant.
- The use of high bed fencing made of boards or galvanized metal also helps improve the conditions for the growth of “little blues”.
- A drip irrigation device will allow you to configure optimal water supply modes for different vegetables.
What to plant with tomatoes?
. Many people believe that tomatoes and cucumbers can be planted in the same building. Of course, if you meet certain requirements, you can get a harvest of both crops, but it is better if tomatoes and cucumbers grow in different buildings. Their requirements for growing conditions are very different. Tomatoes will suffocate in the humid, hot environment required for cucumbers. And the latter can get sick when ventilating, which is necessary for tomatoes.
In addition to eggplant and peppers, it is recommended to plant various greens, carrots and radishes in the same greenhouse with tomatoes. Tomatoes will not successfully coexist with crops such as pumpkin or cabbage. Tomatoes absolutely do not tolerate close proximity to potatoes.
When planting together, pay special attention to a variety of herbs and greens, as they can help produce a rich harvest. Lettuce is known to help plant roots develop, but this does not apply to beans or tomatoes. Parsley will help protect crops from various pests. Calendula planted nearby is a great help against the Colorado potato beetle. . If you plant chamomile in the building, you will help the plants protect themselves from cutworms and moths.
Rules for choosing neighbors in open ground
Eggplants and their neighbors in the garden must have similar care requirements and the same criteria that must be followed when choosing a place for planting:
- good lighting;
- a substrate that combines fertility with looseness (air circulates freely in the soil, water does not stagnate);
- neutral or close to this pH;
- relatively frequent fertilizing (twice a month) and watering (as the surface layer of soil dries);
- moderate air humidity.
When choosing neighbors, you need to take into account the size of adult plants: they require sufficient area for nutrition. A suitable planting scheme is also determined in advance so that the plants do not shade each other.
An equally important criterion by which eggplants are selected for suitable neighbors for planting in open ground is the growing season. If one culture is significantly “ahead” of another in terms of growth and development rates, this is not a suitable option. Most likely, such neighbors will provide unwanted shading and will deprive them of moisture and nutrients.
Any garden crop has suitable and undesirable neighbors.
Features of choosing neighbors for eggplants
Eggplant is a rather “capricious” plant. This also applies to the choice of neighbors in the garden. The culture is light- and moisture-loving and does not tolerate cold drafts and sharp gusts of wind.
Most varieties and hybrids have low-growing bushes. Accordingly, neighbors in the garden bed or greenhouse should not “take away” sunlight from them.
When choosing neighbors, it is necessary to exclude in advance “conflicts” and “competition” for water and nutrients
Important! When choosing neighbors for eggplants, you need to take into account that plants belonging to the same family are affected by the same diseases and pests.
Reviews from gardeners
Love, Moscow
I had 2 bushes left that didn’t fit into the greenhouse, so I planted them in the tunnel with the peppers. The tops were good, but there were no eggplants. So it also depends on the place.
Source: forum.tvoysad.ru
Olga, Odessa
I plant mine in the flower garden, the distance to the potatoes is huge. The beetles begin to crawl onto the eggplants only after they eat the neighbor's potato plantation.
Source: chudo-ogorod.ru
