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Eggplants need fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.2-6.8. Sow seeds indoors in flats 6-8 weeks before the date of the last frost. The soil must be kept warm to ensure germination. Thin plants after 2-3 true leaves have formed.
How long does it take to grow Chinese eggplant?
Depending on the cultivar, Asian eggplants are ready to pick as early as 50 days after sowing outdoors, although most varieties take around 60 days. Using gardening scissors, cut the fruit off the vine, half an inch from the top’s green part (the calyx).
How do you grow Japanese eggplant?
Eggplants require a sunny location, well-drained sandy loam or loam soil, and lots of organic matter such as compost or aged manure. Aim for a soil pH of about 5.8 to 6.5 for best growth. Plant 3- or 4-inch tall seedlings 2 to 2 1/2-feet apart in rows that are 3 or 4 feet apart.
Do eggplants need a trellis?
Like tomatoes and peppers, eggplants should be staked for optimum growth and yield (Figure 2). Staking keeps the eggplant fruit from touching the ground, which reduces disease and improves fruit shape, particularly on elongated fruit. Staking also makes harvesting easier.
How big do Chinese eggplants get?
Chinese eggplants are long and thin, averaging 15-20 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in diameter. These fruits can be crooked or straight, and its thin outer skin ranges from violet to bright purple.
Is Chinese eggplant easy to grow?
Eggplants from China tend to be elongated and deeply purple with glossy skin. They are excellent in stir fry and soup. They are quite easy to grow as long as they receive plenty of sun and heat.
Does eggplant need a lot of water?
Watering. Eggplant also needs consistent water, at least 1 inch per week. It is better to give one thorough soaking than several frequent, short waterings, because frequent watering promotes shallow roots.
Are Japanese eggplants easy to grow?
The Ichiban eggplant is favored for its sweet flesh that is creamy when cooked and pureed into dishes such as baba ghanoush. Growing the purple-hued fruit is as easy as other common garden crops, such as tomatoes and peppers.
Do Ichiban eggplants need trellis?
Staking or caging the seedlings can help keep the plants secure when they start growing heavy fruits (since Japanese eggplants are smaller than globe eggplants, supports aren’t necessary but can still be helpful). Water.
How do you grow Japanese eggplant in pots?
Plant one eggplant per container, 2-gallon minimum. Fill the container with a high quality potting soil that will drain quickly. Add a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting and then every few weeks during the season, especially when plants start to bloom. Water deeply and consistently, but don’t overwater.
What should you not plant next to eggplant?
Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.
How many eggplants will one plant produce?
The standard eggplant produces egg-shaped, glossy, purple-black fruit. ‘Black Beauty’ is the traditional eggplant size. One plant produces 4 to 6 large rounded fruit.
Can eggplant and tomatoes be planted together?
Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions. Again, be sure not to shade the eggplant. Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.
Are eggplants easy to grow?
Growing eggplant is easy where summers are long and warm. Where summers are short, varieties that mature quickly and produce medium to small fruits can easily be grown in containers. If you grow peppers, you can grow eggplant.
Do eggplants need pruning?
With adequate protection from frost, however, eggplants will grow for several years. This means they can get very large, and sometimes more than a little leggy or worn out. To ensure a strong plant and maximum fruit production, eggplant pruning is a good idea in the long term.
How long does it take for an eggplant to grow?
Eggplants are ready to harvest as soon as 70 days after sowing the seeds. Harvest fruits with skin that is glossy and thin. Eggplants can be harvested when they are small, though growing them longer allows for a larger harvest. Harvestable fruits should be firm and inside seeds should not be visible once cut open.
How do I grow eggplant in my backyard?
Planting Eggplant Soak seeds overnight to encourage germination; sow them ¼ inch deep in a loose, fine medium, such as vermiculite. Use bottom heat to maintain a soil temperature of 80 to 90 degrees for the eight to 10 days required for sprouting. Transplant seedlings to individual pots once they reach 3 inches.
How do you care for eggplant plants?
Water regularly, especially when the plants are young so that they develop deep roots. Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease, but consider using mulch to keep soil moist, warm, and to keep weeds down. Generally, eggplants should get an inch (2.5 cm.) of rain or watering per week.
What is the best fertilizer for eggplant?
A balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) is often recommended for eggplant. Feeding too much nitrogen at this point can result in large, leafy plants that fail to produce fruit.
How do you fertilize eggplants?
Fertilize eggplants well. Apply a timed-release, pelleted-fertilizer such as Osmo-cote at planting, following label directions based on pot size. Reapply the pelleted fertilizer after 10-12 weeks. Fertilize weekly with a soluble fertilizer.
