Description
Botanical name
Solanum melongena var. esculentum
Family
Solanacea
Spacing
1 per square foot. Plants grow to 76 cm (30″) tall.
Depth
Plant seeds 6 mm (¼”) deep. Do not pack down soil to make it easier for sprouts to reach the light.
Requirements
Hottest and sunniest spot in your garden. pH around 6-6.5.
Germination
Seeds will sprout in 5-10 days.
Pests
Eggplants can get aphids, which you can wash off with a strong jet of water. We have not seen any pests on our eggplants. Very disease resistant.
Timing
Plant seeds indoors in early March to plant transplants in the garden in late May.
Growing
In our short growing season, eggplants need to be started indoors in early spring. You can purchase seedlings at a garden centre, or start seeds yourself for transplanting. Once your eggplant is in the ground, cover the ground with dark river stones to trap the sun’s heat and keep the roots warm when the temperature drops at night. Eggplant can benefit from regular sprays with kelp fertilizer while they are setting fruit.
Harvest
80 days
Season
Warm, annual
Links
How to harvest peppers and eggplants
Simple and easy eggplant parmesan
