Eggplants are a tender, very warm-weather crop.
- Get began eggplants indoors 10 to 8 weeks previous than the everyday midnight temperature is anticipated to stay above 55°F (13°C),
- Set eggplants throughout the garden after midnight temperatures are repeatedly greater than 55°F (13°C) and sunlight temperatures average 70°F (21°C). If temperatures are so much cooler you’ll have to protect eggplants from the chill with a plastic tunnel or floating row cover.
- Eggplants mature in 50 to 75 days from transplanting. From the time seeds are sown indoors until harvest, eggplants require an entire of 100 to 140 days depending on the variety.
Eggplant Sowing and Planting Tips
- Expand eggplant from seeds or seedlings.
- Eggplant seed is viable for 5 years.
- Eggplants are commonly started indoors in a greenhouse or warmth, well-lit sunroom or kitchen.
- Sow eggplants particularly individual pots of light potting mix 10 to 8 weeks previous than you intend to set vegetation out.
- Do not set eggplants outside until the midnight temperature is consistently greater than 55°F (13°C)—except for you plan to give protection to the vegetation from chilling underneath a plastic tunnel or spun poly-row cover.
- Sow 3 or 4 seeds to a pot or sow seeds all through apartments; then clip away the weaker seedlings once probably the most robust seedling is about 2 inches (5 cm) tall.
- Sow seed ¼ to ½ inch (7-13 mm) deep.
- Germination soil temperature is 70-95°F (20-35°C); the optimum soil temperature for germinating seed is 86°F (30°C).
- Germination takes 10 to 15 days at 86°F (30°C) or warmer.
- Keep seed starting mix merely rainy until seedlings are well-established.
- Eggplant seed can also be sown at once throughout the garden if the soil temperature is warmth enough—and there are enough days throughout the season for vegetation to achieve maturity.
- Seedlings started indoors must be saved underneath increase lights or in a sunny window after germination. Keep the indoor midnight temperature above 62°F (17°C).
- Fertilize with fish emulsion or a soluble whole fertilizer at phase power.
- Transfer seedlings to a larger container once they are 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm) tall; make certain that seedlings have sufficient room for root growth throughout the new container; this process is referred to as “potting up”; continue to pot up seedlings as they outgrow boxes—until they are transplanted into the garden or an excessively large container.
- Eggplants can also be transplanted to the garden after they are at least 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) tall.
- Set vegetation 24 inches (60 cm) apart in rows at least 24 inches apart.
- Add aged compost to planting beds prematurely of transplanting.
- Eggplants make a choice a pH range of 5.5 to 6.8.
- Expand eggplants in entire sun for best yield.
- For individuals who plant seedlings started by the use of each and every different grower, make a choice vegetation 6 to 8 weeks earlier; generally in a 4-inch (10 cm) pot. Check the bottom of the pot to ensure roots are not emerging by the use of and the plant is not root-bound.
- Avoid planting eggplants where tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers have grown in recent times.
- Fertilize with an herbal fertilizer harking back to fish emulsion at phase power.
- Protect early-season vegetation from cold local weather underneath lightweight spun poly row covers supported by the use of twine hoops or underneath a plastic tunnel. Cold nights will goal blossoms to drop producing hairy vegetation without fruit.
- Now not atypical pest enemies include aphids, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, tomato hornworms, and others.
- Now not atypical diseases include blossom end rot, bacterial spot, and relaxed rot.
Interplanting: Plant eggplant with bush beans, chives, cucumbers, lettuce, marigolds, peppers, and tomatoes.
Container Emerging Eggplant: Choose a 10-gallon container or better.
Eggplant Planting Calendar
- 10-8 weeks previous than the remainder frost in spring: get began seed indoors for transplanting out when nights are warmth; get began faster if planting out proper right into a warmed plastic tunnel; pre-warm soil for 2 weeks underneath black plastic sheeting; minimum soil temperature must be 60°F.
- 3-4 weeks after the remainder spring frost: transplant seedlings to the garden if midnight temperatures are 55°F or better or if you can protect vegetation underneath row covers or plastic tunnel from the chill.
Beneficial Eggplant Varieties
‘Black Beauty’ is a antique purple-skinned fruit; ‘Dusky’ is red; ‘Rosa Bianca’ is an heirloom with lavender streaks; ‘Ichiban’ and ‘Pingtung Long’ have long finish consequence; ‘White Egg’ and ‘Early Black Egg’ are small-fruited and small vegetation suitable for container emerging.
Botanical Name: Solanum melongena
Eggplants are a member of the Solanaceae family, other members of this family are tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes.
Further tips: Expand Eggplant.
