Poached Egg plants are such a useful plant to grow in your vegetable patch. Even if you don’t have a large garden and you grow all your plants in pots it is still a very beneficial plant to grow. So here’s how to grow poached egg plants in pots.
What Is A Poached Egg Plant?
The poached egg plant ( Limnanthes douglasii ) is an annual plant but as it produces so many seeds gets classed as a perennial. It’s common name comes from the flower, a bright yellow centre surrounded with white petals which looks like a poached or fried egg.
Benefits Of Growing Poached Egg Plants
Poached egg plants look attractive and brighten up any dull area of your garden. They are not only attractive to us but more importantly to beneficial insects including:-
- Bees
- Hoverflies
- Ladybirds
- Lacewings
So they will attract pollinators and predators to your garden. Any plants that are likely to get infested with aphids will greatly benefit by having poached egg plants growing close by. Also any plants that need bees to pollinate their flowers to produce fruit will benefit from a nearby planting of poached egg plants.
How To Grow Poached Egg Plants In Pots
Select your pot and fill with soil / compost sprinkle the seeds onto the soil and cover with about 3mm of soil water gently and place in a fairly sunny position. This can be done from March to June and they will flower from June to September. Don’t let the pots dry out but don’t over water.
That’s it really, they prefer full sun but will grow in slight shade. One word of caution, poached egg plants are so prolific that within a few seasons the areas around your pots will be covered with plants. Not really a problem but you will need to keep an eye on them. Also be careful that the pots don’t become overcrowded.
Where To Grow Poached Egg Plants In Pots
Most plants will benefit from being surrounded with poached egg plants so the scope is pretty wide on this one. Maybe underneath fruit trees, or next to beans or tomatoes. The list is pretty much endless.
Poached egg plants are such great little companion plants that it is my belief we should all grow them. Encourage children to grow a few and record the various types of insects they attract.
How Tall Will Poached Egg Plants Grow To?
In perfect conditions poached egg plants will grow to around 15cms high (6 inches).
Can anyone help? My poached egg plants are only white. Will they eventually develop yellow centres?
Hi Lorri,
There is a variety of poached egg plants called “Meringue” it is an all white variety, they have creamy white petals with almost black veins on the petals and the pollen spikes are yellow.
It’s possible it’s this variety you have. Don’t worry, they will still attract the beneficial insects.
I hope this helps.
All the best
Steve
Thank you
You’re welcome.
Our poached egg plants are all yellow with no white. Any idea why?
Hi Kate, I’m guessing you have the variety limnanthes douglasii ssp. sulphurea which is an all yellow variety.It’s a plant found mainly in California.
The common name is also Meadow Foam. I hope this helps.
All the best
Steve