Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Can Tomatoes & Eggplants Be Planted Together?
Can Tomatoes & Eggplants Be Planted Together?. Tomatoes, eggplants and peppers belong to the same family and have similar growing requirements, so they may seem like logical partners in the garden. Before you plant them together, consider the size of the mature plants as well as the likelihood of disease problems in your garden.
Tomatoes, eggplants and peppers belong to the same family and have similar growing requirements, so they may seem like logical partners in the garden. Before you plant them together, consider the size of the mature plants as well as the likelihood of disease problems in your garden.
Size
Tomatoes and eggplants both produce bushy plants with one main stem and many lateral leafing branches. Eggplants are fairly compact, upright plants, while indeterminate tomatoes produce sprawling vines up to 5 feet in length. They are often caged or staked to control their rampant growth and require at least 3 feet of space per plant. If you choose to grow eggplants and tomatoes together, select bush-type, determinate tomato varieties. These plants have a well-behaved, compact growth habit that won't overpower the eggplant.
Disease
Both tomatoes and eggplants are susceptible to fusarium and verticillium wilts.These fungal diseases live in the soil and cause leaf yellowing and defoliation. Many tomato plants are resistant to the disease, but eggplants usually are not. By planting the two together, you may increase the risk of infection, especially if you live in a hot, humid climate prone to fungal disease.
Companion Planting
The theory of companion planting suggests that some plants share a symbiotic relationship, releasing chemicals or in some other way benefiting other plants. Although growing tomatoes and eggplants together won't harm the plants, the two don't appear to have any special affinity toward each other either. To maximize the benefits of companion planting, grow tomatoes with onions, carrots, parsley, asparagus, marigolds and cucumbers. Avoid planting them with potatoes, fennel, broccoli and cabbage. Plant eggplants with beans and marigolds.
General Recommendations
Tomatoes and eggplants both thrive in full sun and moist, rich soils. Plant them in rows in the general garden vicinity, but avoid planting them together if possible. If garden space is limited and you must plant them together, practice disease-reducing strategies. Use soaker hoses and drip irrigation to water them, watering in the morning so leaves dry quickly. Remove garden debris promptly.
