- Growing eggplant for food originated in the regions around India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Although in modern times you’ll find most gardeners growing purple eggplants, there are also white, yellow, green, and orange varieties that are making a comeback.
WHEN TO PLANT
In most parts of the country eggplants should be started from seed indoors, and then transplanted into the garden.
Some hybrid varieties take as little as 55 days to mature, but most open-pollinated or heirloom varieties (from which seeds can be saved from) need 70-100 days of warm weather, preferably 80°F and above, to reach maturity.
In northern or cooler climates, start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date and transplant at least 2 weeks after the last frost date (that will put your plants at about 8 weeks when transplanting). In our short growing climate, we wait until June 1st to transplant eggplant into our garden.
Eggplants growing in cold soil or exposed to chilly weather grow poorly. Plant growth will be stunted and leaves can turn yellow and die (we learned this the hard way our first year). Even when warm weather returns, plants may not fully recover.
Eggplants are more susceptible to damage from low temperatures (55°F and below) than tomato plants. Even a very light frost will permanently retard or even kill eggplant.
If you live in a mild winter area with a long growing season, you can do a second planting in the mid-summer, to be harvested late in the fall.
WHERE TO PLANT
To grow eggplant successfully, they’ll need steady, warm growing conditions for at least three months.
- Eggplant prefers organically rich,well-drained, sandy soil and at least 8 hours of full sun per day.
- You can plant eggplant seeds directly in your garden in hot climates.
- Eggplant performs best in daytime temperatures of 80-90°F and nighttime temperatures no lower then 70°F.
PREPARING THE SOIL
- Eggplant grows best in soil with pH between 5.5 and 7.5.
- Incorporate well-rotted manure and compost, or an organic garden fertilizer before transplanting.
- Addition of manure or compost can add micro-nutrients and organic matter to soil
- When you add well-composted manure to the growing area, it helps the soil to retain needed moisture and provides a lighter, looser soil structure that is easier for your eggplant to grow in.
- Add up to 2-4 inches of well-composted organic matter. Work this into the top 6 inches of soil.
- Add more if you have heavy clay soil, this will help to lighten and improve the nutrient quality of your soil.
- If the pH is too low, add lime.
- Covering the planting site with black plastic mulch 2 weeks prior to transplanting eggplants will help heat the soil; transplanting won’t be as much of a shock to your plants.
- Mounding up your soil to make raised beds will also help the soil to heat up quicker in the spring.
SEEDS AND GERMINATION
- Optimal germination temperature is 80° tp 90°F with a minimum of 70°F.
- Cold temperatures (below 65°F) will stop plant and root growth.
- Once you’ve purchased your seeds they should be good for about 5 years.
