{"id":2301,"date":"2019-06-06T09:16:16","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T09:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2301"},"modified":"2020-01-22T08:34:34","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T08:34:34","slug":"14-tricks-on-growing-eggplant-in-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-tricks-on-growing-eggplant-in-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Tricks on Growing Eggplant in Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you love to grill outside during the warm summer months, growing eggplant is simply a must. This wonderful vegetable can take your outdoor grilling from good to excellent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eggplants grow well and look wonderful in small containers. They can also be used as an ornamental border, do well in raised beds, and of course can be grown in your traditional garden. There are several varieties of eggplant available. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The small-fruited types will typically be a heavy bearer of fruit. You can expect to pick more than a dozen from each of the plants during the summer months in a warmer climate. The larger varieties will have more traditional sized fruits, which are just as impressive. If you are planning a garden this spring or summer, growing eggplant is a must. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some tips and tricks for growing eggplant in your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Starting from Seed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning to grow your eggplants from seed, it is a good idea to start your seeds indoors. You should plant your seeds about eight to ten weeks before the last expected frost in your area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seeds will need to be placed in growing pods and kept under lights for several hours each day. The lights will help the seeds start to sprout more quickly. In addition, using bottom heat on the tray of eggplant seeds can help speed up the germination process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A seedling heat mat can be placed under each of the flats of eggplant seeds. The mat should be kept under the flat and then kept there until the plants start to produce their first true leaves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the leaves have formed, remove the mat so that you prevent leggy growth. The seedlings should start to get leaves in just a few weeks from the time they are planted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Growing Season<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you are considering the type of eggplant that you want to grow it is important to note that most varieties of eggplant will require a fairly long time to grow. The larger varieties of eggplant can take up to 75 days to reach full maturity. It is important to make sure that you are choosing a variety of eggplant that is right for your particular area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in the northern part of the country you are going to want to choose an eggplant variety that has a shorter maturation level. This is simply because the northern area of the states does not have as long of a growing season, which means that if you do not plant them early enough you are not going to get the fruits that you desire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like other crops that require warm weather such as peppers and tomatoes, you should not move eggplant seedlings into your garden until the daytime temperatures are regularly in the sixties and seventies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Transplanting Seedlings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The transplanting of your seedlings from their growing pods into your garden can be somewhat tricky. You should make sure that the ground that you are going to plant your seedlings in has been well worked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to add some organic matter such as compost or manure to the ground before you transplant your seedlings. Your eggplants will grow best in soil that has a pH range from 5.5 to 6.0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can purchase a soil testing kit to test the soil that you are planning to grow your eggplants in. The soil test will let you know if there are any important nutrients missing from the soil. If you find that the soil is lacking in specific nutrients or that the pH level is not where it should be you can add in some compost or fertilizer in order to get the soil to where it needs to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Warmth and Sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to growing eggplants you want to make sure that you are planting your eggplants in an area that will receive at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. The plants need this much full sunlight each day in order to grow well. If the eggplants are in the shade too much the plants may become leggy. The shade will also minimize the amount of fruit that you get from them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eggplants are a warm-weather plant, which means that they do best in soil that is warm. You can increase their growth by laying some black plastic over the garden soil several weeks before you are planning to transplant your seedlings. This will help to keep the ground warm and will lead to much better fruit production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also mulch around the eggplants with some dark compost, which will help to heat the ground more and keep the soil around the plants at the temperature that they desire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Flowering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your plants start to grow you may notice that some of the flowers that come up on the leaves will drop off of the plant and fail to produce any fruit. However, the flowers that remain will each yield a fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flowers of eggplant are self-pollinating. This means that they do not need any insects in order for pollination to happen. If you end up with a poor set of fruit, hand-pollinating the flowers can help to improve production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use an electric toothbrush in order to vibrate the stems of the flowers. Do not use it on the actual flowers as this can cause damage. Vibrating the stems of the flowers will help to move the pollen within each of the flowers and should increase growth and production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, it is important to make sure that you harvest the fruits on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Water and Fertilizer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your plants start to flower and the fruit begins to develop it is very important to make sure that you are providing your plants with enough moisture. Your eggplants need to get about an inch of water each week. If it rains, you likely will not need to water your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the weather is producing a dry spell, it is important to make sure that you water the fruit regularly. Maintaining an adequate moisture level is important when it comes to getting a good crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, it is important to make sure that you are testing the soil regularly. Your eggplants need good soil in order to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use fertilizer throughout the season to ensure that your plants are getting all of the nutrients that they need in order to grow properly. Nutrient-dense soil and properly moisturized soil will ensure that you get a better crop yield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Protecting your Plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are some pests and diseases that can take over your eggplant crop if you are not careful. Beetles can damage the leaves of the plant and destroy your crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to protect your plants from being damaged by beetles is to spray your young plants with a spray that is kaolin clay-based. Neem or spinosad can also be used to help protect your plants from these pests. Another option is to use row covers as these can protect your plants from being taken over by beetles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your plants are mature, they can withstand quite a bit of damage caused by beetles without any ill effects. However, younger plants are more susceptible to the damage caused by these little pests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, you want to make sure that you are keeping your garden free of weeds in order to ensure that the weeds are not taking the water and nutrients your plants need to thrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Harvesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An eggplant is ready to harvest when the skin appears glossy. You should take your thumb and press on the skin of the fruit to test it. If your thumb does not leave a print, the fruit is ready to harvest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the different varieties of eggplants require different amounts of time to grow. The smaller versions will be ready much sooner than the regular sized versions. When you cut the fruit from the stem it is important to make sure that you leave the calyx intact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You also want to make sure that you do not cut the stem as you will want it to stay intact so that the plant does not start to rot. You can store your harvested fruits in an area that does not get above 55 degrees. They can be stored for up to two weeks in a dark and cool location before you use them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Storing Your Eggplant
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After harvesting your eggplants, we recommend you wrap each fruit in a paper towel, and then store them in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator. Using this storage method, you can expect your eggplants to stay fresh for up to a week.
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You\u2019ll know when your eggplants need throwing away when they turn soft, and it\u2019s easy to bruise the skin. If any of the eggplants start to turn slimy, remove them from the storage container before they contaminate the others.
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You can keep eggplants in a root cellar as well, provided that the humidity remains over 98-percent, and the temperature stays below 50F. Dry climates exceeding these temperatures will cause your eggplants to rot.
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We recommend that you don\u2019t wash or rinse your eggplants before storage, wiping them with a cloth will remove any dust or dirt on the surface of the eggplant. Wash the fruit as you use it, and make sure you give it a good rinse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Eggplant Varieties
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When it comes to selecting the best type of eggplant for your garden, you need to analyze your space and needs. There are hybrid varieties that produce large fruit, but fewer of them \u2013 while other types produce small fruit, but much more of them throughout the growing season. We put together this quick list of our favorite eggplant species.
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The black beauty \u2013 This is the traditional variety found in many gardens across the United States. The black beauty yields four to six large eggplants during the course of the fruiting season.
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The Ichiban \u2013 This is our favorite eggplant variety. It produces fruit about half the size of the black beauty, but the plant can yield up to 14-eggplants over the course of the season.
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The Little fingers \u2013 This type suits smaller containers and windowsill gardens. The plant produces slender fruit \u2013 but it a heavy-yielding variety producing multiple eggplants over the duration of the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Eggplant Diseases
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Caring for your eggplant requires you to perform regular inspections of your plants to look for any signs of disease. When disease infects your eggplant, it results in a delay in fruiting, or your plants may not produce any fruit at all. There are two pathogens notorious for affecting eggplant crops.
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Verticillium wilt – This bacterium clusters around the roots, preventing the plant from absorbing oxygen and nutrients from the soil. As a result, you\u2019ll start to notice one or two leaves wilting. As this is not usually anything out of the ordinary for gardeners, most don\u2019t pay any attention to it. However, the plant will start aggressive wilting over the following days, resulting in the death of the foliage and starvation for your eggplant.
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Powdery mildew \u2013 If your garden experiences damp, humid conditions with a lack of sunlight in the morning or late afternoon, you are creating the ideal conditions for this fungus to spread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Support the Fruiting Phase
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After your eggplant gets to about a foot in height, it\u2019s time to start planning for the fruiting phase. The eggplant will start to divert energy toward the stem as the fruiting season begins. As a result, the plant produces smaller fruit to compensate for the energy needed to strengthen the stem.
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You can avoid this diversion of energy, and support your eggplant, allowing it to focus on producing fruit, rather than remaining upright. If you plant your eggplants in a flowerbed, consider building an A-frame trellis that runs the length of the flower bed. As the eggplants start to touch the top of the lattice, weave them into the material, and the plant will do the rest.
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If you\u2019re planting in a pot, then add some grid fencing inside the inner lip of the container. This preparation strategy allows you to avoid the need to disrupt the roots of the plant during the fruiting season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Growing Eggplant in Containers
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Eggplants are a great addition to any vegetable garden, and they also make a fantastic potted plant as well. If you don\u2019t have a large veggie garden, or you live in an apartment with limited growing space, then growing eggplants in containers is a viable option to help you produce some tasty, fresh veggies.
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Choose a container with a depth of 18-inches minimum, and a 5-gallon pot should be more than enough room for the eggplant to spread its roots and produce fruit.  We like using material pots to enhance the airflow around the base of the eggplant, increasing the size of the yield.
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The \u201clittle fingers\u201d variety is ideal for growing in containers, and the plant produces many slender fruits during the course of the flowering season. These small fruits are perfect for adding to single meals where you don\u2019t need to use an entire eggplant for the dish. Remember to stake your eggplant stems as the plant grows. This strategy helps when it comes time to support the plant for the flowering phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Rotate Crops at the End of the Season
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As with any vegetable, eggplants draw nutrition from the soil to grow and fruit. If your soil does not contain the necessary food the plants need to thrive, then you can look forward to stunted growth and small fruit with minimal flavor. Therefore, you\u2019ll need to rehabilitate the soil in your growing area after every season to ensure you continue to produce crops with a maximum yield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend that you leave a quarter of your garden unplanted. You still need to till and fertilize this section of the garden, but you won\u2019t be planting anything in this space during the course of the season. When the spring rolls around the following year, use this space for your primary grow site, and keep another section of the garden unplanted, allowing it to rest to the coming season.
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Using this rotation strategy ensures that your plants always have sufficient nutrients available at the start of the growing season. Rotation also helps to remove pathogens from the soil, reducing the chances of your plants catching a bacterial or fungal infection.
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