Eaten worldwide, eggplant is easy to grow and produces abundant fresh fruit throughout the growing season. These plants can grow quite large, producing multiple glossy eggplants that appear in the sunshine. Eggplants can range in color from deep purple to white to light green to even purple and white striped. They make a great addition to your summer garden -- thriving in hot, humid temperatures.
Here are six tips to keep your eggplants flourishing all season long, from proper plant care to how to harvest and more!
1. Provide Enough Sunlight
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Eggplants love lots of sunshine and thrive in the hot summer heat. Typically, they grow as annuals in zones 5 through 12. In more tropical climates, like zones 10 to 12, eggplant can grow as a perennial.
This plant requires full sun, needing at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. The ideal temperature for growing eggplant in your home garden is 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Eggplants do not tolerate frost or cold conditions, so plant them at the correct time for your area. Temperatures below 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit may impact fruit production by shocking your plant, causing fewer buds to form or flowers to drop off your plant.
However, temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit will impact your plants as well. Intense periods of heat affect how eggplants set their fruit, causing stunted growth and blossom drop. To prevent this, cover your eggplants with shade cloth during heat waves. Move container plants into a shady location during mid-day, when the temperatures are at their highest.
2. Mulch Around Plants
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Eggplants enjoy moist, well-draining soil and plenty of water, about 1 inch per week. This is especially important when the plant is setting and developing its fruit. To retain moisture in the soil and keep the soil evenly saturated, mulch around your eggplants. Apply a layer of mulch at least a few inches thick. Popular mulch choices for vegetable gardens include fallen leaves, straw, grass clippings, and compost.
Natural mulches break down in the soil and may need a refresh over time. Replace mulch as needed to ensure your plants always have a thick enough layer for support. Not only does mulch slow down water evaporation, but it also crowds out weeds and adds essential nutrients to your garden soil.
3. Provide Support for Eggplant
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Provide support to your eggplants at the beginning of their growing cycle, which begins in late spring when temperatures increase. When the seedlings are small or immediately after transplant, stake your plants or use a large tomato cage.
Staking provides vital support for eggplant as it grows. These plants are large and bushy, growing up to 4 feet tall and producing lots of heavy fruit. Without proper support, your eggplant may even topple over. To prevent this, apply a 24-inch stake for each plant, leaving about 1 to 2 inches between the stake and the plant.
Pro Tip: Always insert the stake or tomato cage at the beginning of the season when plants are small. If you try to add support later on, you risk significantly damaging the roots of your plant.
4. Fertilize Eggplant Regularly
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Eggplants need regular fertilizing to continue growing healthy and strong all season. Apply a well-balanced fertilizer to your plants approximately every two weeks. Use a water-soluble or slow-release fertilizer and follow package directions. Mix fertilizer with a 5-10-5 ratio at planting to give your plants a jump start. Later in the growing season, use a balanced fertilizer with a 10-10-10 ratio. Strive for a soil pH of 5.8 to 6.5 for the best results.
Avoid using a fertilizer that is too high in nitrogen, as it may result in excessive vegetative growth. This causes more stems and leaves to grow on the plant and delays flowering and fruiting.
5. Pinch Off Flowers for Bigger Eggplants
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Pinch off some of the flowers to grow bigger eggplants. During flowering, your plant will form many buds that eventually become fruit. For bigger eggplants, leave only five to six fruit per plant. If more flowers appear, remove and discard any extra flowers.
You can harvest eggplants in anywhere from 55 to 85 days, so before you know it, you'll have multiple large eggplants to enjoy! Use them in dishes like eggplant parmesan, baba ghanoush, or even roasted on the barbeque.
6. Harvest Fruit Often
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Harvest your fruit often to keep your plant producing lots of eggplants throughout the summer months. Doing so encourages your plant to keep producing more fruit. Eggplants are usually ready for harvest in July, August, or September -- with some cultivars like 'Santana' or 'Ghostbuster' producing fruit into October. Typically these types of eggplant are ready for harvest after 80 days or more.
Eggplants left on the plant for too long will taste bitter. Harvest fruit when it is young and has a glossy shine to it for the best taste. It should be firm to the touch and feel somewhat resistant when you press on it. Once cut open, look for soft-formed seeds that are light in color. Dark brown seeds are a sign that your eggplant will be bitter.
Get Egg-cited!
A great source of essential vitamins and minerals, fiber-rich, and high in antioxidants -- eggplants have many health benefits. Consider planting a few in your vegetable garden this summer and reap the benefits of this delicious fruit! Remember to provide enough sunlight, consistent watering, and proper fertilizing to keep your eggplants happy in the garden.
Do you have any tips for growing eggplant? Leave a comment down below and share.