Eggplant Plant - Trees Planting

Eggplant requires 100 to 140 warm days with temperatures consistently between 70° and 90°F (21-32°C) to succeed in harvest.
Eggplant is best started indoors and later transplanted into the garden; sow eggplant indoors 6 to eight weeks before setting plants into the garden.
Transplant seedlings into the garden no before 2 to three weeks after the last frost in spring.
Eggplants planted too early won’t develop.

STARTING EGGPLANTS INDOORS

Start eggplants from seed indoors about 8 weeks before setting seedlings within the garden.
Sow seed in individual containers or flats. Sow eggplant seed ¼ to ½ inch (12mm) deep spaced 4 to five inches (10-12cm) apart.
Eggplant seeds germinate in about 5 to six days.
Give seedlings started indoors 12 hours of sunshine each day; use a grow light or fluorescent lights.
Start seeds on a heat mat then grow seedlings on at about 70°F (21°C).
Transfer seedlings to 4-inch (10cm) pots when seedlings are 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) tall then into gallon containers if the weather doesn’t allow transplanting as seedlings grow 5 to six inches (12-15cm) tall or taller.
Ahead of transplanting, lay black plastic across garden planting beds to pre-warm the soil.
More tips: Eggplant Seed Starting Tips.Eggplant transplanted to garden

Eggplant is sensitive to cold. It grows best where day temperatures are between 80° and 90°F (26-32°C) and night temperatures between 70° and 80°F (21-26°C).

WHERE TO PLANT EGGPLANT

Grow eggplants fully sun.
Eggplants grow best in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Add aged compost or commercial organic planting mix to planting beds before planting and switch the soil to 12 inches (30cm) deep.
Eggplants prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8.
Warm the soil beforehand of planting by laying black plastic over planting beds for 2 weeks.

TRANSPLANTING EGGPLANTS TO THE GARDEN

Transplant eggplants into the garden 2 to three weeks after the last spring frost.
Make a hole twice the width of the basis ball and half again as deep. Moisten the opening before transplanting.
Sprinkle a 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 organic within the bottom of the opening and canopy lightly with aged compost or planting mix. Then set the seedling in situ .
Set eggplant seedlings into the garden at an equivalent depth they’re growing in their containers.
Firm the soil round the root ball and gently water the plant. Create alittle basin round the seedling to direct water to roots at watering time.
Set a stake or small tomato cage place to support the plant because it grows. Eggplants loaded with fruit can tip or fall over; it’s best to support them.
Space eggplants 24 to 36 inches (61-91cm) apart. Space rows 24 to 36 inches apart.
Protect young plants with polyethylene row covers if days or nights are cool. Lift row covers during warm afternoons in order that bees can pollinate plants.

CONTAINER GROWING EGGPLANTS

Eggplants are easily grown in containers.
Grow eggplants in pots a minimum of 12 inches (30cm) across and as deep. Choose a smaller growing variety for container growing.
Be sure to stay the potting soil just moist through the season. don’t let the soil dry out.
Feed eggplants in containers every two to 3 weeks with compost tea or dilute solution of fish emulsion.
Container grown eggplants are easily removed of cold weather; so you’ll extend the season in spring and autumn by moving plants indoors when frost threatens.

WATERING AND FEEDING EGGPLANTS

Eggplants are heavy feeders prepare planting beds with aged compost and side-dress eggplants with compost tea or a dilute solution of fish emulsion every 2 or 3 weeks until the fruit has set then every 3 to 4 weeks after.
Eggplants require evenly moist soil to make sure the simplest and fastest growth. don’t allow the soil to dry out and don’t overwater.
Set drip irrigation or a soaker hose in situ after transplanting seedlings to the garden. Give plants a minimum of 1 inch of water hebdomadally .
Inconsistent soil moisture may result in misshapen fruits.
After the soil has warmed to 70°F (21°C), mulch around eggplants to retain soil moisture and to stay down weeds.

COMPANION PLANTS FOR EGGPLANTS

Plant eggplants with bush beans, southern peas, and nitrogen-fixing crops. don’t plant eggplant with tomatoes or corn.
Eggplant growing

Protect eggplants from an unexpected late frost. Provide protection in the dark until all danger of frost is past.

CARING FOR EGGPLANTS

Protect eggplants from an unexpected late frost. Provide protection in the dark until all danger of frost is past. Cover plant with spun poly row covers.
Chilly weather and lack of moisture can inhibit pollination.
In hot summer climates, the soil temperature may become too warm for the roots; mulch plants about 4 weeks after setting them within the garden.
Where temperatures grow hot within the summer to 100°F (37°C) or greater, protect eggplants with shade covering.
Tall varieties and people with heavy fruit should be staked or caged.

EGGPLANT PESTS

Eggplants are often attacked by cutworms, aphids, flea beetles, Colorado potato bugs, spider mites, and tomato hornworms.
Cutworms are going to be discouraged by collars set round the plants at the time of transplanting.
Control aphids and flea beetles by handpicking or hosing them off the plant and pinching out infested areas. Spray infestation with insecticidal soap or spinosad.
Spider mites are often difficult to control; use an insecticidal soap spray.
Handpick hornworms off the plants or spray with Bacillus thuringiensis.

EGGPLANT DISEASES

Eggplant is vulnerable to fungal and bacterial diseases.
Planting disease-resistant varieties when possible.
Keep the garden clean of debris.
Verticillium wilt can attack eggplants; spray-mist leaves with compost tea to stop and slow fungal diseases.
Diseased plants should be removed immediately before the disease spreads to healthy plants.
Protect the plants against soil-borne disease by rotating corps; don’t plant eggplant relations including tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers within the same spot two seasons during a row.

HARVESTING EGGPLANTS

Time from planting to reap is 100 to 150 days from seed, 70 to 85 days from transplants.
Harvest eggplant young before the flesh becomes pithy.
Eggplants are ready for harvest when the fruit is glossy, firm, and full-colored.
Eggplants with no seeds are immature. Fruits with hard, dark seeds are overripe.
Eggplants that are under or overripe are going to be bitter tasting.
Cut eggplants from the stem with a pruning shear or sharp knife. Leave a brief stub of stem attached to the fruit.

STORING AND PRESERVING EGGPLANTS

Eggplants will confine a well-ventilated place for up to 1 week at 50°F (10°C) or slightly warmer.
It is best to not refrigerate eggplant but if you are doing wrap the fruit in plastic to stop cold burn. don’t wash or cut eggplants before refrigerating.
Eggplant are often frozen or dried.
Grow Black Beauty eggplant in warm weather.

Grow Black Beauty eggplant in warm weather.

Black Beauty may be a classic eggplant with glossy black, bell-shaped fruit 4 to six inches long.

EGGPLANT VARIETIES TO GROW

Four classic eggplant varieties to grow are:

Black Beauty: grows glossy black, bell-shaped fruit 4 to six inches (10-15cm) long.
Ichiban: grow slim, deep purple fruits 6 inches (15cm) plus long.
Little Fingers: small, dark purple fruits, 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) long.
Easter Egg: small pastel yellow or orange fruits the dimensions of an egg

Here’s a full list of eggplant varieties to grow:

Bell-shaped eggplant: Black Beauty (73-80 days); Black Bell (68 days); Blacknite (61 days); Imperial Black Beauty (80 days).
Long, cylindrical eggplant: Agora (68 days); Dusky (61 days); Ichiban (60 days); Millionaire (55 days); Osaka Honnoga (65 days); Slim Jim (65 days); Tycoon (54 days); Vernal (70 days); Violetta di Firenze (65 days); Vittoria (61 days).
Small eggplants: Bambino (45 days); Mini Fingers (68 days).
Non-purple eggplants: Alba (60 days); Casper (70 days); Easter Egg (60 days); Italian Pink (75 days); Listada de Gandia (75 days); Louisiana Long Green (100 days); Osterei (80 days); Rosa Bianca (75 days); Turkish Italian Orange (85 days); White Beauty (70 days).

ABOUT EGGPLANTS

Eggplant may be a small- to a medium-size bush vegetable that produces smooth, glossy-skinned fruit which will vary long from 5 to 12 inches (12-30cm) long.
Eggplants have large, fuzzy, grayish-green leaves and produce star-shaped lavender flowers with yellow centers.
The products are often long and slender or round or egg-shaped fruit. The fruit is creamy-white, yellow, brown, purple, or sometimes almost black.
Eggplants can grow 2 to six feet tall (.6-1.8m), counting on the variability.
Eggplant Yield. Plant 1 to 2 eggplants per household member.
Common name: Eggplant, aubergine, guinea squash
Botanical name: eggplant