Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Feb	Mar	May
S	S
		T
		P

(Best months for growing Eggplant in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays
T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
P = Sow seed

Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 24°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart
Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Cut fruit with scissors or sharp knife.
Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, capsicum, lettuce, amaranth, thyme
Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

01 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If the plants are small and weak then it is lack of fertiliser. I have strong plants about 15
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04 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have strong plants about 15-18 (?)
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10 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): My plants are flowering from about 15-18
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02 Jun 18, Caroline (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): I have never grown eggplant before but successfully grew 6 plants this year outside in Invercargill. They produced well and have just started to die off now that we are getting frosts every night. I have harvested all the fruit but was wondering if it is worth leaving them in the ground for next year or just pulling them out and starting again next year.
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13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate): Read the notes at the bottom of the page.
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04 Jun 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate): Your eggplants will probably die off completely during the winter, so it would be best to start again with new ones in Spring.
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19 Apr 18, Tracey (Australia - temperate climate): Hi All I have Lebanese eggplants which are coming to an end. This is the first time I have grown them and they have fruited extremely well. Do you pull the plant out when they have finished or will they fruit again net year? Thanks
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04 Oct 18, Lucy Carson (Australia - temperate climate): I dug mine up in Autumn, potted up and kept in greenhouse over winter (regular watering), they have already got buds on them and I'll replant back in the garden.
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22 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I believe they will grow again but I wouldn't bother - just grow new plants next year. My old plants are so straggly and fall over so much I just pull them out. Fresh new strong plants next year.
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20 Apr 18, Carol (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Tracey. This is from the info here on eggplants.. "Perennial in tropical climates otherwise grown as an annual" So, if you're in a temperate climate, I'd pull them out. When I was in Fiji a few years ago, eggplants were used as hedges in one of the villages we stayed in!
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i read that fungus gnat are mainly on indoor plants. Once seeds have germinated I find it best to put them out in the sun a bit. Some sun, some shade during the day. The amount of each will depend on how hot or cold it is during the day. Google fungus gnats and read the article about them on The Farmers Almanac

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Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Your comments and tips

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