Description
Botanical name
Solanum melongena ‘Ping Tung Long’
Family
Solanacea
Spacing
1 per square foot.
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
65 days
Season
Warm, annual