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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.
How often should eggplant be watered?
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. Weather and soil type, of course, will affect water demand.
How do you take care of a potted eggplant?
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.
Do eggplants need a lot of sun?
Eggplant Care Eggplants are sun lovers. Make sure they get at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days.
Do eggplants like sun or shade?
As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day.
How do I keep my eggplant plant healthy?
Choose an area with abundant sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Keep soil moist but not soggy—soaker hoses are a great option. Keep your plants fed by feeding them regularly with a continuous-release plant food.
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.
Can eggplant be grown indoors?
Eggplants are self-pollinating, but they rely upon the wind and insect activity to move pollen to flowers. With a bit of extra work, growing eggplants inside is possible, and you can expect some fruit with good care.
How long does eggplant take 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.
Does eggplant 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.
Can eggplant grow in shade?
Growing eggplants outdoors requires full sun. Try planting them on a south-facing area of your yard once they are larger than 3 inches. Ample sunlight provides the energy needed for large fruit production through photosynthesis.
Should I pinch off eggplant flowers?
Pruning Eggplant Suckers Even if you don’t want to cut back your eggplant drastically, it’s a good idea to remove suckers. Pinching off these suckers when they’re small will allow the plant to focus more of its energy on fruit production, resulting in larger, more impressive eggplants.
How do you fertilize eggplant?
Reapply the pelleted fertilizer after 10-12 weeks. Fertilize weekly with a soluble fertilizer. Until the plants start to flower use a balanced fertilizer with a 1-1-1 ratio such as 20-20-20 or 20-30-20. Once flowering starts switch to a high potassium blend such as 9-15-30 or any fertilizer with a 1-1.5-3 or 4 ratio.
Where does eggplant grow best?
About Eggplants Plant eggplant in a location that gets full sun—6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day—for the best results. Eggplant grows best in a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil that is fairly high in organic matter. Soil pH should be between 5.8 and 6.5 for best growth.
How long do eggplants last?
Eggplants do not store well for long periods of time. Without refrigeration, eggplants can be stored in a cool, dry place for 1 or 2 days. If you don’t intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated.
Do eggplants grow back every year?
Although eggplant is a perennial, it is more commonly grown as an annual.
How do you get eggplant to bear fruit?
Make sure your eggplants receive at least two inches of water per week. They’ll need more than that when the weather is particularly hot. Eggplant blooms are pollinated by the wind. These plants don’t depend on pollinating insects like bees to get the job done.
How do you increase eggplant yield?
5 Tips for Growing Excellent Eggplant Try growing small-fruited eggplant varieties. Start seeds late. Anticipate eggplant flea beetles. Invite native pollinators. Provide timely feedings.
What do you plant after eggplant?
Additional Eggplant Companions Peppers, both sweet and hot, make good companion plants, as they have the same growing needs and are susceptible to the same pests and diseases. Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions. Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.
