Plant: Eggplant

Garden Prep Pointers: 

*Till soil thoroughly in full sun location, mix in 15-15-15, or organic fertilizer (amount specified on package).

Planting Season: 

*Seeds: Start indoors mid-late March under grow-lights

*Transplants: Plant outside May 15^th – June 15^th (May 15^th is best)

Plant Selection Tips: 

*Healthy, fruit free transplants from a garden center are best, opposed to starting seedlings.  The occasional blossom is acceptable is transplant is very healthy.

*Choose bushy plants, with dark green color.  Avoid holy or yellowed leaves. 

*Choose plants with larger pots (representing greater root growth and a healthier plant)

Planting Guide:

*Plant 24” apart

*Planting on a hill (mound) is optional

*Planting through black plastic sheet helps warm soil and prevent weeds    without additional labor or chemicals

Planting Notes: 

*Plant top of root system even with soil surface

*Dress 12” radius around plant with a sm/med handful of fertilizer

*Water thoroughly

Upkeep:

*After planting, avoid fertilizing again until fruit set.  Upon fruit set begin fertilizing with liquid fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks until end of season.

*Water daily, plastic mulch helps retain moisture in soil if one day is missed.

Fruiting Habits:

            *Plants usually fruit 6-8 weeks after planting.

            *Each plant yields 5+ medium eggplant over 3-4 weeks of fruiting.

Growers Favorite Varieties:

            *Classic

Grower Notes:

*When planting on plastic, place soaker hose under plastic, OR puncture holes in coffee can or similar container, set into ground next to plant and fill can to water plant.

*Eggplant is a very pretty, but woody plant.  Harvest with hand shears.

*Beware of spines near fruit when harvesting.

Fruits of Knowledge: 

*The three numbers on fertilizer represent percent Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium respectively.  For example 12-15-12 signifies 12lbs nitrogen, 15lbs phosphorus, 12lbs potassium per 100lbs applied

*Fruiting stresses plants, the additional bit of fertilizer helps extend the life of the plant and increase yield

*Eggplant is a heavy feeder and in my experience needs the additional fertilizer as suggested in the “Planting Notes” above.  Beware of over-fertilizing though.