Plant them where they won’t be shaded out by other plants and give them at least 18” of space away from other plants. You can save money by saving your own seed. When the pollen gets moist, it becomes sticky which prevents it from blowing off with the wind. One plant produces 4 to 6 large rounded fruit. Planting: Space 24 to 36 inches apart. They’ll remain viable for 4 years, but are best sown as soon as possible. The group of eggplants that ripen red or orange generally belong to the species Solanum aethiopicum, an African cousin of the common eggplant. Trust us when we say that this distinctive plant will upgrade your garden and meals. I like to use these little reusable zip ties when staking my plants because they are gentle on the stalks, and I can reuse them year after year. Solanum melongena is native to Southeast Asia, particularly India where it’s one of the top crops grown. If your area doesn't get into the 90s with regularity, expect lower yields than if you were someplace with hot summers. It creates yellow and light brown spots that eventually turn dark and dry out the whole leaf. Use pruning to your advantage by controlling the fruit size. You can apply plastic or organic mulch around the transplants to hold in the heat, if the soil is cool. Although named Japanese (or Chinese) eggplant, these longer and thinner eggplants aren't restricted to Japan or Japanese cuisine.Their slim shape makes them particularly good for cutting on the bias (a.k.a. You may want to protect them against pests and the elements with row covers. Prevent it by keeping the plant dry, using disease-free seeds, and immediately destroying infected areas. While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? If you really want to get creative, eggplants can also be grown upside down like tomatoes. How many fruits does each plant produce? We love eggplants here, but not everyone agrees with us. If you notice this, prune back the foliage and switch to a low-nitrogen fertilizer (or lay off it altogether). Last year I grew about 150 plants; Black Beauty, globe Italian kinds, Rosa (lavender) kinds, Asian (long) kinds, and a few heirlooms like Listada da Gandia. Since you’ll be watering frequently, the soil must be well-draining. A native of the tropics, eggplant are warm-season plants that are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than tomatoes. For ideal growth, the pH should be between 5.5 and 6.8. As of yesterday we have picked about a dozen and there are still about 8-10 on the plant. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. Anything below 70°F runs the risk of slowing the plant’s growth. Use copper fungicide if the fungus gets out of control. These charming plants will thrive in raised beds, pots, and even upside down! Eggplant Pests. On the flip side, leave the plant alone to get numerous, but small, eggplants. Blossom drop is another potential problem. Listada da Gandia is a medium sized fruit (not to mention gorgeous) but yields quite a lot; it wasn't unusual to pick 5-7 per plant each week....as opposed to 1-2 Black Beauties most weeks. But, remember to remove them once the flowers show up or they’ll interfere with wind pollination. (4 points) So take the plunge and learn about how to start growing eggplant today! They were both root bound in coconut coir pots though so they grew only about 18 inches tall and couldn't get their roots past the pots fibers. The flesh should be yellow-white and absent of seeds. It’s a tricky plant to grow and can be intimidating to cook. It will take about 2-3 weeks for the seeds to germinate. Otherwise, it’ll become waterlogged and drown the roots. You’ve put in the work and now you’re ready for a warm plate of home-grown goodness. Several other names that are now invalid have been uniquely applied to it: You can cook so many different things with eggplant, from salad to ratatouille. Fluctuations between wet and dry soil can harm berry development and mar their skin. The fruits of an eggplant are technically berries, as I said at the top. Eggplant dates back to at least 300 BC in Southeast Asia, where it had important culinary and medicinal uses. As a result, the flowers don’t get pollinated. Yet another fungus, Verticillium wilt turns the leaves yellow, starting at the bottom of the plant. These plants will give you multiple harvests, so keep up with this schedule to keep the fruit coming. Keep a small piece of the stem attached and make a clean cut. If you can’t get the soil tested, a 10-10-10 fertilizer is a good choice. Ideally, choose a spot that gets sun for more than 6 hours per day to plant your eggplants. Prevent this by watering deeply, so the moisture makes it all the way to the roots. Sunlight: Eggplants require full sun. The smaller fruited Italian, Chinese, Indian, or Japanese varieties produce greater numbers, but maybe not more total weight. Eggplant Yield. It's skin is dark purple, it's pear shaped and it has a meaty inside. Although it is quite challenging to grow eggplants from seeds, this is the common option for many home gardeners. Colorwise, they aren’t limited to purple. Use a heating mat to warm the soil to 80-90°F. We’ve done the work for you in adjusting the numbers of these plants so at harvest you aren’t overwhelmed with too many delicious veggies. Many producers in Mediterranean countries prefer to irrigate their eggplants providing 1 liter οf water per plant every 2-3 days, during their first stages. Q: How many eggplants do you get per plant? Eggplant need lots of heat and long daylight hours to do their best....they start thriving here when the temperatures start averaging around 95. Before planting, use a soil testing kit to determine what nutrients you need to add. In time, the leaves curl, turn brown, and dry out. Once the plants bloom, apply a side-dressing every two weeks at the most. Because of this, avoid constantly planting those species in the same location year after year. You can trim the leaves without harming the plant. Let the designated fruit mature fully on the vine before harvesting it. Work granular fertilizer into the soil before planting. The standard eggplant produces egg-shaped, glossy, purple-black fruit. Q: How long does it take to grow an eggplant? Absent adequate rainfall, provide a single watering each week, moistening the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Because the stem is woody, cut, do not pull, the fruit from the plant. In very warm weather, you may want to set your soaker hose to run on an irrigation timer to ensure regular soil moisture. Colorado potato beetles are actually kind of pretty with their orange and white coloring and uniform stripes. Eggplants should be picked as soon as they are ripe, with slightly immature fruits tasting best. Eggplants need quite a bit of room to grow. This article contains incorrect information, This article is missing information that I need. Italian eggplants are like smaller, slightly sweeter, versions of globe eggplants that still maintain a thick, spongy texture. It’s also widely grown in the US and some European countries where it’s an important part of Mediterranean cuisine. The eggplant is quite often featured in the older scientific literature under the junior synonyms S. ovigerum and S. trongum. Stems erect and hairy. A: Plants in the Solanum family, such as tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, are good choices because they have the same care needs as eggplant. ‘Black Beauty’ is the traditional eggplant size. This oil is also helpful for getting rid of other garden pests. (2 points) In 5th century China, it was used to make dye and various recipes. Is eggplant supposed to be mushy? Purplish-black smooth eggplants. Also, read the instructions from the manufacturer to learn how to properly take care of the plant. Nitrogen is great for leafy growth, but too much of it will take energy away from the fruit. The two plants I had last year gave me 2 eggs plants from one plant and 0 from the other. I have grown squash before and it produced well. There’s actually an astonishing variety of eggplants. The only widely-used method to lengthen the shelf life is to pickle them. Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Here’s how to harvest and store your yield for the best – and tastiest – results. Before fruits form, stake the stems to provide extra late-season support. 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