Eggplant or Aubergine
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting
Eggplant or Aubergine
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow eggplant or aubergine in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- How many eggplant or aubergine to plant
- Growing conditions for eggplant or aubergine
- When to plant eggplant or aubergine
- How to plant eggplant or aubergine
- Watering, fertilizing, and pruning eggplant or aubergine
- Companion plantings for eggplant or aubergine
- How to harvest, store, and use eggplant or aubergine
Growing Eggplant or Aubergine
Eggplants are warm-season, bushy annual or tender perennial vegetables. The plants, to 3 ft. (90 cm) tall and wide, bear large, rough, oval, lobed leaves and tubular or pear-shaped, meaty fruit, 5–12 in. (13–30 cm) long and to 2 pounds (0.95 kg) in weight, with glossy, smooth, green, purple, white, yellow, or striped skins.
Eggplants are prized as a main ingredient of many Mediterranean and vegetarian dishes, as a substitute for pasta, and deep-fried as an appetizer. The European common name, aubergine, is derived from the Catalan alberginia, originating from Arabic al-bāḏinjān and Persian bādingān, both from the Sanskrit vātiṃgaṇa).
Eggplant or Aubergine Plant and Care Guide
How Much to Plant
Allow 1–2 plants per household member, yielding 16–15 lbs. (2.7–6.8 kg).
How to Plant
Seed germinates in 10–15 days. Average Climates: Sow seed indoors at time of last expected frostand harden seedlings 7–10 days before transplanting to garden soil. Mild-Winter Climates: In spring, set out seedlings 3–4 in. (75–100 mm) tall in full sun when soil warms to 65–70°F (18–21°C); hasten soil warming by covering beds with black plastic. Sow seed 1/4–1/2-in. (6–12-mm) deep, 6 in. (15 cm) apart, thinning to 2 ft. (60 cm) apart, in rows 3 ft. (90 cm) apart.
Best Conditions for Growth
Growing temperature: 65–90°F (18–32°C). Protect plants from temperatures below 50°F (10°C); flowers will drop at lower temperatures. Shade plants at temperatures over 100°F (38°C) to prevent sun scald.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Rich. 5.5–6.8 pH. Prepare soil at least 2 ft. (60 cm) deep. Amend soil prior to planting with calcium-rich ground oyster shells. Rotate plantings to prevent accumulation of disease organisms in soil; avoid sites where peppers, potatoes, tomatoes previously were grown.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep evenly moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Apply ample water during flowering and fruit-development stages. Fertilize monthly with 10–10–10 formula, liquid organic fertilizer, or well-rotted manure. Mulch. Cultivate. Pinch large-fruited cultivars to one fruit per main branch or a total of 4–6 per plant. Support fruit if necessary to maintain above the soil surface. Aphid, flea beetle, whitefly and verticillium wilt susceptible.
Pairing Recommendations
Bush beans, crowder and southern peas.
Maturity, Picking and Gathering
Early varieties: 80 days. Late Varieties: 100–140 days. Pick fruit when firm, glossy, full colored, and desired size. Chill after harvesting to temperature of over 45°F (7°C). Harvest promptly before seeds color; leaving fruit on plant produces mushy texture and seedy fruit.
How to Store and Preserve
Use promptly. Fruit holds fresh in vegetable keeper of refrigerator for up to 1 week at temperature of over 45°F (7°C).