What is the best way to grow eggplant?

What is the best way to grow eggplant?

Choose a very sunny spot for the best results. Eggplant grows best in a 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.

What is the best month to plant eggplant?

When to Plant Eggplant Eggplants can only grow in warm soil—50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. The best time to plant eggplant is in late spring after the last threat of frost. Eggplants have a long growing season, so you’ll need to start them indoors around eight weeks before your region’s last frost date.

What is best fertilizer for eggplant?

A balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) is often recommended for eggplant. Feeding too much nitrogen at this point can result in large, leafy plants that fail to produce fruit.

How deep do pots need to be for eggplant?

Usually, the eggplant is relatively large, similar to a pepper plant or tomato, so it requires a large pot, which should be big enough for the capacity of five gallons, at least. In other words, use a pot that is at least 12 inches deep in size for each plant.

Do eggplants need to be staked?

Like tomatoes and peppers, eggplants should be staked for optimum growth and yield (Figure 2). Staking keeps the eggplant fruit from touching the ground, which reduces disease and improves fruit shape, particularly on elongated fruit. Staking also makes harvesting easier.

Do eggplants need a lot of sun?

Eggplant Care Eggplants are sun lovers. Make sure they get at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days.

Do eggplants need a trellis?

Yes, it’s wise to create a support for eggplants. Staking eggplant keeps the fruit from touching the ground, which in turn, reduces the risk of disease and fosters fruit shape, especially for elongated eggplant varieties. Staking eggplant also makes for easier harvesting.

Is Epsom salt good for eggplants?

When the first blossoms appear, spray the plants with a seaweed extract with one teaspoon of Epsom salts dissolved per gallon. The solution improves fruit set. Young fruits are best; mature eggplants may be bitter. Eggplant can be grown successfully in a container.

Does eggplant need a trellis?

What is the best way to plant eggplant?

Plant your eggplants in full sun, but shield against the wind, if possible. Eggplants can be planted in rows, with 18 inches between each plant in the row, and 30 inches between each row. If you are planting fewer plants, consider a raised bed.

What is the best fertilizer for eggplant?

Fertilizing the soil before planting helps to give the transplants a good start. An organic fertilizer such as dried chicken dung or any other type of manure makes a good fertilizer for starting your eggplants. Manure fertilizers are processed so that there is no odor that can emanate from your garden.

How often to fertilize eggplant?

However, because the plants have less soil from which to draw nutrients and because watering the plants carries soil and nutrients out of the container, container grown eggplants require applications of a soluble 15-30-15 or 20-20-20 fertilizer every one to two weeks.