Bell peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants share similar needs, high temperatures, enough water, rich soil. Joint planting in a greenhouse is not only spatially efficient, but also biological: plants support each other through different root systems and pollinators.
Layout in the greenhouse 6 m² (3×2)
Typical layout for a hobby greenhouse:
- North side (1 m): cucumbers, the tallest culture, does not shade other plants
- Middle (1 m): bell peppers and eggplants alternately
- South side (1 m): low-growing cultures (basil, strawberries)
Spacing:
- Bell peppers: 40 cm between plants
- Cucumbers: 50 cm between plants
- Eggplants: 50 cm between plants
Bell peppers, varieties and care
When it comes to bell peppers, variety selection is crucial. Suggestions for Slovenia:
- Babura, Slovenian classic, thick flesh
- California Wonder, large, square
- Champion F1, early, disease-resistant
- Habanero Chili, for lovers of spicy food
Care:
- Remove the first flower (central "crown flower"), strengthens the plant
- Water evenly (occasional drought + abundance = cracked skin)
- Fertilize every 14 days with potassium (need for sweet flesh)
Cucumbers, support and pruning
Cucumbers are climbing plants, vertical culture. In the greenhouse, they need a sturdy frame up to 2 m high. Varieties:
- Marketmore, classic, long fruits
- Saladin F1, parthenocarpic (without pollination)
- Kornete for pickling, smaller, ideal for canning
Pruning:
- Guide the main stem vertically with a rope
- Remove side shoots up to 50 cm high (strengthening roots)
- Leave 4-5 side shoots at the top
- Remove all flowers on the main stem, fruits grow on side shoots
Eggplants, the forgotten king
Eggplants (aubergines) are not a traditional crop in Slovenia, but they thrive in a greenhouse. The most demanding of the three, they require:
- 22-28°C all the time (sensitive to cold)
- Rich soil with 5 cm of mature compost
- A lot of water: 3-5 L per plant daily at peak
- Support, a 1.5 m stake
Best varieties: Black Beauty (classic), Long Purple (Italian).
Harvest: when the skin is shiny and firm. When it's dull, it's too late, the flesh is bitter.
Polyculture, rules and combinations
Polyculture has 3 golden rules:
- Different heights, high, medium, low level
- Different roots, deep and shallow
- Mutually beneficial, one feeds the other (legumes + vegetables)
Suggested combinations for a summer greenhouse:
- Tomatoes + basil + chili peppers (classic Italian)
- Cucumbers + radishes + dill (radishes as a "trap crop")
- Bell peppers + garlic + basil (garlic repels aphids)
- Eggplants + tarragon + chili peppers
"Polyculture is not just capacity, it's also security. If one plant is attacked by disease, the others still stand.", a biodynamic farmer from Prekmurje
More on eco-gardening in the article Ecological fertilization without chemistry.
Typical yield from 6 m² greenhouse with polyculture: 30 kg tomatoes + 15 kg bell peppers + 25 kg cucumbers + 8 kg eggplants = total 78 kg for the family.
Proper greenhouse for polycultures
Sigma 4×3 m has enough space for 3-4 different cultures at the same time. Premium polycarbonate for warm summers and frosty mornings.
Sigma greenhouses