eggplant have a report as troublesome to raise and unpleasant to eat , but neither is deserve . With the right conditions , and in the hands of the ripe cook , anyone can savor eggplant from the garden to the collection plate .
I personally find it leftover that many people do n’t like mad apple . I think it ’s because it ’s often improperly cooked . If you get it right , this vegetable beat out the relief when it comes to smack .
It ’s also an excellent option for vegetarians and vegan who desire an ingredient with a meaty texture that ’s soy - free . Even carnivore love this tasty plant , which is actually a fruit .
Eggplants belong to to the nightshade family , the same as the love apple , and there are an incredible array of color , size , and shapes . The beauty of growing your own ? you may have types that you would never happen at the grocery storage , and they taste so much better .
I produce eggplant every year and , in my mood , celebrate it alive and aim it to yield is often a challenge . This heat - loving industrial plant is picky , but if properly wish for will provide you with legion yield perfect for baking , sauteing , and sautéing . I encourage anyone who does n’t survive in an ideal clime for growing eggplant to judge their helping hand at it , and we ’ll give you all the noesis you demand to bring home the bacon .
Eggplant Varieties
The following eggplant varieties are not only wanton than some to grow , but they have a flavor that you ’ll enjoy .
How to Plant Eggplant
When to Plant Eggplant
bulge indoors 35 to 55 24-hour interval before the last frost and temper off at least ten days before putting it in its permanent location . you’re able to transplant this when the plant life are at least 3 - inches tall .
plant life eggplants well after the luck of frost has pass in the bounce when dirt temperature reach 55 - 60 ° F . Planting too too soon is a recipe for calamity and may vote down your newly planted start . Direct sowing is n’t advised , especially if you have a forgetful summer season , like me .
In my area , I set about eggplants indoors early in March to ascertain that they ’re overnice and bushy by the meter they end up in the ground . That style , there ’s mountain of time for the plant to blossom and set fruit . Be careful not to let them get root bind . If you have space , transplant seedlings to big pots as they originate indoors .
Sunlight Requirements
Eggplants need stack of sun . localize them in an region that get sun for most of the daylight – at least 6 hours or more .
Soil Requirements
eggplant bush require fertile , well - drained soil . They ca n’t manage poorly - drained soil , so ameliorate your globe with gumption if it is n’t well drain . produce aubergine prefer soil with a pH between 5.5 to 6.5 .
When starting eggplant seeds indoors , a high temperature mat is a must to warm up the soil to advance sprouting . Eggplant semen sprout painfully tardily or not at all if the grease is too cool .
Ways to Plant Eggplant
Containersare an excellent choice if you ’re growing eggplants for the first clock time . A raft lets you wreak the plants indoors should the weather condition turn unexpectedly .
Containers have another welfare as well . eggplant bush are actually perennial . If you have extra elbow room indoors , you could bring them in when the weather begin to get cold in the fall so you could continue to harvest fruit .
When planting eggplant in bed , utilize mulch to help warm the grunge before putting them in the primer .
Germination Time
Be patient . Even when grow eggplants with heat matt , seedlings are notoriously slow to germinate . In some character , you may be expect up to 2 week for seeded player to stock .
Spacing Eggplants
Your eggplant may seem little at first when it ’s a seedling , but these plants can grow quite big . A large container is required even for compact varieties , at least 16 - inches broad .
Plant seedlings 18 to 24 - inches apart with 24 to 36 - inch between rows .
Extra Tip
Do n’t forget to provide some livelihood for your eggplants because , like tomatoes , they get bombastic as they grow and the fruits can topple the flora over .
Caring for Your Eggplants
Watering
pee regularly , about 1.5 - column inch per hebdomad . Eggplants tolerate some drought , but they ca n’t handle wet root .
Temperature
Eggplants are fussy about temperature . Although they like it red-hot if it gets too warm the blossoms on the plant begin to drop and fruits wo n’t set . That makes it tougher to grow in a location with wildly fluctuating temperature in the summertime . Where I ’m located , the spring and other summer include days that are extremely warm with cooler evenings . In the late summer , the temporary often stay live day and Nox .
That ’s where containers come in ready to hand . If you live in an area that has temperature extreme point , debate growing in a tidy sum that you could move around as needed .
Mulching
I mulch all of my flora around the base , including Solanum melongena . Mulching keep up moisture and order soil temperature . Proper mulching also helps keep weeds away .
Fertilizing
bung mature eggplants with a compost tea every two weeks after planting . Give plants an extra boost before embed with a ecumenical plant food .
Pruning
If you ’re growing eggplant near to other plants , you might find the orotund farewell start to entrench on their space . you could trim the leaf without harming the flora .
I use sharp pair of scissors to trim leaf to keep my beds neater since I implant Lycopersicon esculentum and eggplant closely together . recently in the time of year , the leaves of both industrial plant get a minute entangle , and I prefer to keep them squeamish and tidy .
Crop Rotation
Do n’t plant in the same area as other nightshade were grown in the previous year . This include anywhere you planted potato , tomatoes , or Madagascar pepper .
Succession sowing
Solanum melongena requires a long grow menstruum , so it ’s not ideal for succession sowing . That say , to insure you always have eggplants ready to eat , choose a few varieties that have different maturity day of the month .
Common Problems and Solutions to Growing Eggplants
Problems
You may see a few issues when uprise eggplants . Here are some of the most common and what to do about them .
Flea Beetles
You believably wo n’t encounter too many pest issuance while turn aubergine , but flea beetles are potential sources of ire . Flea mallet do n’t typically make enough wrong to kill eggplant all , but your plant wo n’t be too hefty if the infestation is significant .
These small bugs do the most terms to leaves and are capable of circularize disease , so even if they are n’t likely to slay your works , it ’s best to address the job head - on . utilize a raw nebulizer to dissuade them or stop them with insect ambush .
Hornworms
Hornworms are a garden foe you definitely require to get disembarrass of right away since they can rapidly do a number on your plants . They ’re more likely to head for your tomatoes but they are n’t picky , so they ’ll sample tasty snacks around the garden .
For a modest infestation , pick the worm off and squelch them , or bolt down them by drench them in fulsome body of water . Parasitic wasps are a predator of tomato hornworms , so welcome them with subject arms !
Aphids
Aphids are know to attack grow eggplant . Blast them off the plant with a stiff spray from the hosepipe , and grease one’s palms or promote good insects like ladybug and lacewings .
Cutworms
Managecutworms , which feed off the stems and leaves of seedlings at the stem , using diatomaceous earth or cornmeal mixed with molasses and Monterey Bt .
Mites
If you see flyspeck entanglement cover your flora , you might have mites . Control mites by take away infested leaves , or spray the industrial plant with Neem oil .
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that attacks eggplant . you could identify this ailment by the seeable white spots it causes on leaf . Pick disease - resistant varieties to prevent infection in the first position and do n’t overcrowd plants .
Verticulum Wilt
Another disease that eggplants may abridge is verticulum wilting . You ’ll notice this disease when you see leaves curl , wilt discolor and die . put down any plants that are taint with this disease , because it ca n’t be cured . It may be triggered by poor craw gyration . solarise any grease where septic industrial plant grow .
Blossom-End Rot
Also , keep an eye out for blossom - ending guff . endeavor to avoid this problem by maintaining reproducible levels of moisture and feed plant life calcium to forestall deficiency .
Cercospora Leaf Spot
Cercospora leaf spotcan be controlled by rotating crops each twelvemonth and avoid overhead irrigation .
Companions for Eggplants
Best
I like to implant my eggplants next totomatoesand peppers since these works have similar sunlight and water requirements . The following are some other good companions for aubergine .
Worst
Harvesting & Storing Eggplant
Harvest eggplant when it ’s reached its intend size of it . Most germ mailboat will leave you with this information . Not certain ? It ’s best to pick the fruit originally rather than later . leave alone it on the works too long , and it may get rugged and sulfurous .
In worldwide , you’re able to expect to pick fruit 16 to 24 week after sowing . One clue is when the skin of the yield is shiny but has n’t started to wrinkle .
Be heedful when harvesting eggplant . Many mixture have spikes that can prick the pelt . I use scissors to trim the fruit from the works , but some folks squirm and pull to take away . I tend to avoid that for reverence of tumble my plants by mistake or prick myself on the thorns . Pulling the eggplant off the vine is not commend .
Eggplant should be used quickly , within a few days . lay in it in the fridge or cut off it up into block and freeze it for late use . The texture will suffer , but it can still be used for sauces . Some folks also enjoy preserving eggplant by pickling it or turning it into chutney .
garden egg are implausibly various in cookery . you’re able to enjoy avariety of disheswith homegrown eggplant . From eggplant parmesan to scrumptious Thai sautéed eggplant , there ’s a style to enjoy this meaty veg that will please even the pickiest palate .
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