I've been growing eggplant in my garden for the last few years and, let me tell you Bob, it's so worth it! Fresh eggplant is far, far superior to anything you buy in a grocery store.
Normally, here in Virginia we have eggplant ready to pick in mid-late July, but because of all the rain we had earlier this summer, things got off to a bit of a slow start this year. So, my Black Beauty Eggplant are just now getting mature enough to be harvested.
Growing Eggplant
Eggplants are super easy to grow and to start from seeds. Just plant seeds in small pots about 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep, give them some water, and in about a week or two, the seedlings should emerge. Eggplants are a warm weather crop and you should wait until night temperatures are well above 55 or even 60 degrees before planting outside. You'll also want to allow at least 6 weeks of indoor growing time before setting out your eggplant seedlings in the garden.
Eggplants like rich, warm soil, so be sure to add lots of well rotted compost to the area where you'll be planting the eggplants. Plant the eggplants about 36 inches apart in rows about 3 feet apart. Once the weather starts to get hot, the eggplant will start to really take off and they'll need lots of space.
There are zillions of different types of eggplants and there is a huge range in sizes, shapes, and colors of eggplants you can grow. I've been a bit boring when it comes to eggplant and almost always just grow Black Beauty. Black Beauty is an heirloom eggplant variety that usually has great yields. The fruit are dark purple (almost black), large and oval and look very similar to the type of eggplant most commonly found in grocery stores... but they taste way better!
Last year, I grew only four plants in the veggie garden and we had more eggplants than we knew what to do with. This year, I am again growing just four eggplants, but since they had such a slow start, I imagine we won't have the bumper crop we got last year. So, next year I'll be planted extras.... just in case. (*note to self, always grow extras just in case!)
Do you grow eggplant?
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