Curious about growing eggplant?
Learn everything you better know to grow this delicious vegetable.
Eggplants(Solanum melongena)are delightfully versatile in the kitchen.
Eggplants can be grilled as steaks, added to stir-fries, stuffed and roasted, or pickled.
Understanding and satisfying eggplants growing needs will deliver a hearty summer harvest for all your favorite recipes.
Several of the tools needed to grow and harvest eggplants make some of thebest gifts for gardeners.
Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.
Although eggplant is a perennial in frost-free, semi-tropical regions, it isalmost always treated as an annual.
Cool temperatures cause stunting, and the plants may never recover fully.
Optionally, purchase seedlings from a nursery, but dont plant them outside until the weather warms.
Soil temperatures should be 70F or above.
Harden off seedlings grown indoorsby taking them outside in an area protected from wind.
Water the seedlings well and plant on a cloudy day.
Space eggplants at least 2 feet apart and water thoroughly.
Mulch to help control weeds.
Cut an X through the plastic and dig a hole when you plant each seedling.
Leave the plastic in place to keep the soil warm and discourage weeds.
Eggplant fruit can be heavy.
Wait to plant until warm weather, and be sure the plants get plenty of sunshine and water.
Space them so there is good air circulation between plants to avoid disease issues.
After the plant starts to produce fruit, harvest it often for best fruit production.
Light
Eggplants love sun.
Plant them where they receive at least 6 to 8 hours offull sundaily.
Soil and Water
The soil should be well-drained, witha pH of 5.5 to 7.0.
If you dont receive an inch of rain, supplement it with a hose.
Avoid wetting the leaves as this can spread disease.
Eggplant responds well to adrip or trickle irrigation system.
A lack of water results in low fruit production.
Temperature and Humidity
Eggplant thrives in temperatures between 70F and 90F and average humidity.
Protect young plants from unexpected cool weather byplacing row covers over themuntil the temperatures warm.
you might reapply fish emulsion every three or four weeks if the plants seem to need a boost.
Pruning
Pruning eggplant isnt usually necessary.
Select a large pota 5-gallon pot is a good choiceand use a high-quality potting mix.
Position the eggplant in the container at the same level it was growing in its seedling pot.
Place it in a sunny location and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Eggplant is usually grown as an annual, so it doesnt require repotting.
Provide good air circulation by proper spacing.
The most common pest is theflea beetlea tiny black or brown beetle that chews tiny holes in leaves.
Mature plants can usually withstand the beetles feeding on them without much damage.
Aphidsandspider mitesare sometimes a problem.
A hard stream of cold water usually reduces the population, so they cause minimal damage.
Like other nightshade crops, eggplants may be attacked by Colorado potato beetles.
Hand-picking is the best way to control them.
Eggplants occasionally suffer from a few diseases,including verticillium wilta soil-borne fungus.
Avoidance is the key.
Another fungal disease, anthracnose, causes dark sunken spots on overripe fruit.
Harvest the fruit as soon as its mature to avoid the problem.
Remove any fruit with symptoms so the disease does not spread.
Use a knife or snips to cut the fruit stem so you dont injure the plant.
Dont let ripe fruit remain on the plant because it will become bitter, and fruiting will slow.
The more you harvest, the more youll get.
Use a heat mat for best results because eggplants need warm soil.
Keep the medium moist but not soggy.
Seeds should germinate in one to two weeks.
Keep the lights about 6 inches above the tops of plants while they grow.
After they have a couple of pairs of leaves, thin to the strongest seedling.
Fertilize with 12 strength fish emulsion every 10 days unless your growing mix contains fertilizer.
Be sure to harden off the seedlings before you transplant them outdoors.
Plants grow to 2 feet tall, and the fruit begins to ripen about 74 days after transplanting.
Its 7-inch fruit begins to mature within 65 days of transplanting.
Gretel
Gretelis a heavyproducer of 3- to 4-inch white fruit on 2- to 3-foot plants.
The non-bitter fruit is excellent for caponata and begins to mature in 55 days.
The fruit is speckled purple and white and is not bitter.
It matures in 65 days.
Oregano also repels other harmful pests and insects, including the cabbage butterfly and cucumber beetle.
French Marigolds
French marigoldsrepel several common eggplant pests, including nematodes.
When in bloom, they also attract beneficial insects, such as lacewings, which prey on aphids.
However, mint can be invasive, so it should be contained in pots positioned near the eggplants.
New plants are started each year from seed.
Eggplants are high in fiber, low in calories, and rich in antioxidants.
They also contain manganese, folate, potassium, and vitamin K.
Solanum melongena.
