WHEN TO PLANT EGGPLANT

• Start seeds indoors in flats or peat pots 8–9 weeks prior to the last spring frost date .
• Seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 70 to 90°F. Alternatively, buy 6- to 8-week-old nursery transplants just before planting.
• Do not plant eggplant transplants into the garden until after the last threat of frost.
• If purchasing transplants: Buy high-quality specimens. Do not purchase tall, spindly plants or young plants that have blossoms or you will have a lower yield.

CHOOSING AND PREPARING A PLANTING SITE

• Choose a very sunny spot for the best results.
• Eggplant grows best in well-drained sandy loam or loam soil, fairly high in organic matter.
• Soil pH should be between 5.8 and 6.5 for best growth.
• Use a covering of black plastic mulch to warm soils before setting out transplants.
• Eggplant requires moderate amounts of fertilizer. Mix 1 inch or so of well-rotted manure or a general fertilizer such as 5-10-10 throughout the planting bed about a week before planting. (Apply 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet.
• Or, apply 1¼ pounds of 5-10-10 per 10 feet of row when the row spacing is 4 feet.)
• If you’re growing eggplant in pots, use a dark-colored container that will absorb more sunlight. Each plant needs five-gallon (or, larger) pots and should be placed in full sun and outdoors so it can be pollinated. Use a premium potting mix to avoid disease.

HOW TO PLANT EGGPLANT

• Stake the plants right away (just an inch or two from the plant) to provide support as they climb and to avoid disturbing the soil later.
• If you live in a cold climate, consider using row covers to keep the eggplants warm and sheltered. Open the ends of the row covers on warm days so that the bees may pollinate.
• If transplanting, set 3- to 4-inch tall seedlings 2 to 2½ feet apart in rows that are 3 to 4 feet apart.
• After planting, water well. Add a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

CARE

• Eggplant will fall over once loaded with fruit! Be sure to stake tall plants or use a cage to keep the plants upright. If growing eggplant in containers, stake the stems before the fruit forms.
• For bigger fruits, restrict to five or six per plant. Pinch out the terminal growing points for a bushier plant.
• Water well to moisten the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches so the soil is moist but never soggy. Consistent watering is best, and a soaker hose or drip system at ground level is ideal.
• The critical period for the moisture is during fruit set and fruit development. Mulching can help to provide uniform moisture, conserve water and reduce weeds.
• Apply a balanced fertilizer twice during the growing season. Side-dress when the first fruits are about the size of a quarter, using 3 ounces of calcium nitrate per 10 feet of row. Sidedress again in about two to three weeks.

Note: Too much nitrogen may cause excessive vegetative growth. If you are using plastic mulch, apply fertilizer through drip irrigation, or apply organic fertilizer to the side of the row.