Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  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

04 Mar 09, Mohan U. (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted five into the ground and two in pots. All are fine and have yielded on an average two fruits. Quite some pests - mites etc. Regular spray of fine water to dislodge them. The only fertiliser used was blood n. bone with some calcium nitrate.
13 Mar 09, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)
I think I made the mistake of only planting a single Eggplant seedling. It seems to be growing very very slowly (if at all). Are there any tips on having them flower and fruit. It is currently planted in ground, facing north and getting full sun.
22 Mar 09, Kim (Australia - temperate climate)
Same comment as Greg, I'm in Adelaide and the longer I leave the fruit on the tree the paler they seem to become. Is it still okay to eat?
28 Mar 09, marina (Australia - temperate climate)
It's late March. My purple egg plants have lots of blossoms but most fall. Very few carry to fruit? Any ideas on why this is so?
30 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Marina: I was having the same problem (West Sydney). I finally solved it by watering every other day and 1 application of a handful of potash. 2 plants have so far given 5 with 5 more fruit growing and 4 more flowers
31 Mar 09, marina (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks David. I suspected too much water could be a culprit and I'm going to do the potash thing. Happy eggplanting!
05 Apr 09, (Australia - temperate climate)
I too have a problem with the Aubergine not going dark, actually is yellow sometimes the growth is stunted. My soil type is almost neutral.
06 Apr 09, Wendy (Australia - temperate climate)
Egg plants are very hungry for Nitrogen. Mine are fed abundantly, mostly with horse manure and compost and some chook manure. I have at least 10 good size fruit per plant. However they do not seem to fully ripen, always a little greenish just under skin when cut. They still taste fine but I am told they are much richer in taste if fully ripe. any clues??
07 Apr 09, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
Mine are growing wildly and happily and profusely in a no-dig garden of lucerne hay, manure, compost and wheat hay...the only thing is that they keep getting infested with grubs :o( I'm not sure what kind, just squishy white maggoty-looking grubs. Any tips on managing these pests?
13 Apr 09, Hazel Taylor (Australia - temperate climate)
My eggplants have grown well but the later fruit have maggots in them. They make long black tunnels and taint the flesh. This is the first year this has been a real problem. Any tips?
Showing 21 - 30 of 345 comments

Is egplant perennial in zone 7a Charlotte NC

- Jim Petterson

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