
Eggplant
- Botanical Name
- Solanum melongena
- Hardiness
- Annual
- Height
- 2 to 4 feet
- Width
- 2 to 4 feet
- Flowers
- Mid to late summer: violet
- Fruit
- Variety of colors and shapes; purple, white, green, orange; long and thin or ball-shaped
- Light
- Full sun
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained, fertile
- Planting & Care
- Best germination occurs with soil temperature 80°F to 90°F
- Start plants indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost date or 8 weeks before transplanting outdoors. Sow seeds 1/4 deep.
- Harden off plants and transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and the temperatures have warmed to at least 60°F
- Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart, spacing rows 30 to 36 inches apart
- Pinch off any flowers 2 to 4 weeks before first expected frost. This allows the plant to put its energy into ripening the existing fruit
- Use floating row covers to protect plants from temperature fluctuations and pests
- Some varieties may need staking
- Problems
- Verticillium wilt, flea beetles, aphids, cutworms, Colorado potato beetle
- Varieties
- Fairy Tale - 2005 All-America Selections winner, petite, white with purple stripes
- Gretel - AAS winner, small white fruit
- Hansel - compact 3', thin purple fruit 3-10" in length, AAS winner
- Easter Egg - small white egg-shaped fruit, mature to yellow, edible
- Paito Baby - early and productive, compact, good for containers, deep purple, egg-shaped fruit, thornless, AAS winner
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