How to grow Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Side-dress with fertiliser half way in the season and again when you harvest the first fruits from the plant to ensure steady growth.

Needs a long season, so start under cover and plant out when frosts have finished, or grow in a heated greenhouse (reduce artificial heat in summer) 4. Mulch well and keep well watered 4. May need staking 4.

More most varieties, remove flower buds and leave only 3-4 to set fruit. Ensure regular watering at this stage.

Growing Eggplant from seed

Eggplant is best started from transplants, but can be also be started from seed.
If using seed, start early in the season using a little warmth and protection if your growing season is short

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 feet (60.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.2 inches (0.5 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 15°C / 59°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Eggplant about 42 days before your last frost date .

Transplanting Eggplant

Transplant out only when all danger of frost has passed, as they are very cold sensitive and will stunt or die if exposed to the elements too early.
Alternatively, grow on under glass or a cloche, potting up into good compost as the roots become visible at the bottom of the pot

Ensure that temperatures are mild (minimum night temperatures should be around 24°C / 75°F) and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Eggplant is a tender plant.

Harvesting Eggplant

Eggplants should be harvested when 15 cm (6 inches) long and when the skin is still glossy. Harvesting fruits too late will result in bitter tasting eggplants, so keep a close eye as they develop.

How do I know the eggplant fruit is ready for harvest?
A good test to see if the eggplant is ready is to hold the fruit in your palm and gently press the fruit with your thumb – if the flesh presses in then bounces back, then it should be ready to harvest. Hard flesh indicates that the eggplant is not yet ripe and needs to be left on the plant a while longer.

Eggplants bruise easily so harvest gently, using garden shears or scissors to avoid twisting the fruit from the plant. Always cut the eggplant with the cap and some of the stem attached.

Wear gloves to harvest fruit as some varieties have sharp spikes on the calyx, sharp enough to break one’s skin 4.

Eggplants do not store well. Harvest and use them immediately for best flavor. If you must store them, wrap them in plastic or use plastics and store for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. Be careful as it will soon develop soft brown spots and become bitter. Use them while the stem and cap are still greenish and rather fresh-looking." 5

Seed Saving Eggplant

Seed viability is four years.

How long does Eggplant take to grow?

These estimates for how long Eggplant takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Days to Germination How long does it take Eggplant to germinate?
11 days

Average 11 days | Min 1 days | Max 28 days (521)

Days to Transplant How long until I can plant out Eggplant?
+ 46 days

Average 46 days | Min 6 days | Max 102 days (243)

Days to Maturity How long until Eggplant is ready for harvest / bloom?
+ 99 days

Average 99 days | Min 16 days | Max 202 days (372)

Total Growing Days How long does it take to grow Eggplant?
= 156 days

When should I plant Eggplant?

Our when to plant Eggplant estimates are relative to your last frost date.

When to sow The number of days to sow Eggplant before or after your last frost date.
42 days before Last Frost Date

Eggplant Etymology

The term eggplant originated as a description of white coloured eggplants because they look like eggs.3

Eggplant Folklore & Trivia

Developed in Spain in 16th century.

During the Renaissance it was refereed to as the “Mad apple” or the “love apple”, the later it shared with the tomato.3

Other names for Eggplant

Aubergine

Misspellings: Solanum melongana, Solanum melongea, Solanum melongeana

Footnotes

1 Mother Earth News Compainion planting guides

2 Cass County Extension

3 History and Iconography of the Eggplant

4 Gardenate: Growing eggplant

5 University of Illinois Extension Website


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