Eggplant rotation - Ask Extension
Hello,
For several years, I planted eggplants in the same garden bed. Each year the crop got successively worse; I eventually found that you should n...
Knowledgebase
Eggplant rotation #860198
Asked February 29, 2024, 8:27 PM EST
Hello,
For several years, I planted eggplants in the same garden bed. Each year the crop got successively worse; I eventually found that you should not plant eggplants in the same area year after year.
I'm giving the soil a rest this year, but wondered if there was something I could plant to replenish the soil for next year?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Good news: You don't need to give the soil a rest.
The decline in eggplant health and productivity may not have been due to growing them in the same location. When you have plant problems please submit the problem and photos right away so we can help you diagnose the problem.
This spring, you want to remove all of last year's residues and then add organic matter, such as well-aged compost or Leaf-Gro.
Plant crops from other families in that bed for this year.
Eggplant is in the Solanaceae family so avoid:
Tomatoes, Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes), Peppers and Tomatillos.
A soil test is recommended if the eggplant plants were small in size, off -color, and generally growing poorly to determine if soil pH is too high or low or if some nutrient is deficient:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-testing-and-soil-testing-labs/
If all the beds are of a similar soil type and have been treated the same way and only the eggplant grew poorly, it's probably not a soil issue.
Possible causes for eggplant becoming less and less productive can include root and stem diseases, common insect pests like flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, eggplant lace bugs, and abiotic conditions like crowding, low sunlight, late planting, or poor-quality transplants.
Here is our page on Eggplant with more specifics:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-eggplant-home-garden/
We have many other pages like this as well,
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/#!/category/3/subcategory/828
Christine
The decline in eggplant health and productivity may not have been due to growing them in the same location. When you have plant problems please submit the problem and photos right away so we can help you diagnose the problem.
This spring, you want to remove all of last year's residues and then add organic matter, such as well-aged compost or Leaf-Gro.
Plant crops from other families in that bed for this year.
Eggplant is in the Solanaceae family so avoid:
Tomatoes, Potatoes (but not sweet potatoes), Peppers and Tomatillos.
A soil test is recommended if the eggplant plants were small in size, off -color, and generally growing poorly to determine if soil pH is too high or low or if some nutrient is deficient:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-testing-and-soil-testing-labs/
If all the beds are of a similar soil type and have been treated the same way and only the eggplant grew poorly, it's probably not a soil issue.
Possible causes for eggplant becoming less and less productive can include root and stem diseases, common insect pests like flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, eggplant lace bugs, and abiotic conditions like crowding, low sunlight, late planting, or poor-quality transplants.
Here is our page on Eggplant with more specifics:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-eggplant-home-garden/
We have many other pages like this as well,
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/#!/category/3/subcategory/828
Christine
Thanks Christine!
The eggplants grew well - up to a point. Then they just stopped growing - very small fruit, and I just waited for it to resume. Then it just rotted.
I'll give another plant a chance there this year, do the soil test first, and then try again next year. And I will check out the resources you suggested.
-- Jack
You're welcome.
Insufficient/inconsistent soil moisture and poor pollination are potential reasons for why fruits/vegetables fail to reach their normal size, shape, or ripeness. We're happy to help investigate the issue if it starts to happen again this coming season. Good luck!
Miri
Insufficient/inconsistent soil moisture and poor pollination are potential reasons for why fruits/vegetables fail to reach their normal size, shape, or ripeness. We're happy to help investigate the issue if it starts to happen again this coming season. Good luck!
Miri
