how to grow eggplant

Eggplants are also good for container growing, with one plant per 5-gallon pot. Eggplant needs warm conditions, and will not thrive during a cool season. This article was co-authored by Steve Masley. Where summers are short, varieties that mature quickly and produce medium to small fruits can easily be grown in containers. Lentils and peas are also helpful to grow with eggplants, as they’re members of the legume family with similar nutrient-fixing skills as beans. They grow during short, hot seasons, so be aware of soil and air temperatures as you plan how and when to get eggplants started: If starting from seeds, make sure the soil is between 75- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 30 Celsius). Self-fertile eggplant flowers can be fertilized by wind alone, but buzz … A semi-tropical plant; cannot tolerate frost. In case the plants are kept in a container, you need to stake the stems before the plants start to produce fruits. Hand picking is also effective for tomato hornworms, 4-inch green caterpillars with white stripes. But to succeed with eggplants, you'll need to supply them with steadily warm growing conditions for at least three months. Do not wash or cut in advance to avoid damaging the skin, which will quickly perish … Companions. The soil needs to be fast-draining. Lebanese eggplants produce fruit 12 to 14 weeks after planting, and are pollinated by bees. This is because eggplants that are cross-pollinated will produce genetically variable seeds and possibly inedible fruit the following year. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, and can also be planted with other nightshades, since they have similar requirements. Stay on top of weeds by regularly hand-pulling or carefully weeding with a hoe or cultivator. Seed is … How to Grow Eggplant From Seed To get ahead start on the eggplant growing season, try growing eggplant from seed. Mulch immediately after transplanting, and gently hand pull any invading … Eggplant varieties differ in size, shape, color, and maturation time. Mulch immediately after transplanting, and gently hand pull any invading weeds. The ideal temperature for eggplant is 30-degree Celsius or 86 Fahrenheit. How to Grow Eggplant – pixabay.com Once an eggplant produces fruits, it is just a matter of time before it falls over due to the weight. A stake or pole is fine, but a trellis would work too. To grow eggplant, start by planting your seeds 6 to 9 weeks before the last frost is expected. Choose an area with abundant sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil. Difficulty Easy in a greenhouse or outdoors in hot summers. Planting Eggplant. Lift the row covers to water your eggplants, and remove them completely when it's time to harvest. Eggplants require warm soil (70-75 degree F), so if you live in a place where there is a problem of frost; start planting the seeds 2 months before the frosting date. Growing eggplant is easy where summers are long and warm. Use a 5-gallon container for each plant and fill with moistened organic potting mix. Eggplants need about an inch of water per week, depending on the soil moisture. Catnip, Marigold, Beans, Pepper and Tarragon. Although eggplant seeds are tiny, sow the seeds about ¼-inch (6 mm.) Once the outdoor temperature reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit, you can plant your eggplant seedlings outside. It will be a good idea to add organic matter to the soil, which will help to increase the size of the crop by up to two times. Transplant outside 4-6 weeks after the last frost into a warm and sunny location. Use bottom heat to maintain a soil temperature of 80 to 90 degrees for the eight to 10 days required for sprouting. Watch out for the small prickles that line the stems and the cap of some varieties, as they are a skin irritant. Start eggplant inside 3-4 weeks before the last frost. They are small and develop quicker, and they are pretty disease resistant as well. When collecting eggplant seeds, grow only one type of eggplant in a single garden area. Avoid overhead irrigation to prevent disease development. Latin Solanum melogena Family: Solanaceae. Insert the stakes right away after transplanting your seedlings to avoid disturbing the soil later on. In 2007 and 2008, Steve taught the Local Sustainable Agriculture Field Practicum at Stanford University. Choose a large pot to house your mature eggplant. Eggplant seeds germinate in about 5 to 6 days. Then, plant 1 to 2 seeds in each container and wait for the seedlings to sprout, which can take up to 2 weeks. 10 dried shitake mushrooms1 ½ cups water3 eggplants½ Cup vegetable oil4 cloves garlic2 cm knob ginger1/3 Cup soy sauce or tamari2 tbsp rice wine, saki or other cooking wine or sherry2 tbsp sugar1 tsp sesame oilPlace shitake mushrooms in a heatproof bowl and cover with 1 ½ cups boiling water. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Grow-Eggplant-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Eggplant-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Grow-Eggplant-Step-1.jpg\/aid10090395-v4-728px-Grow-Eggplant-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"