How to Grow Eggplant

Eggplant, also known as brinjal and aubergine, is a plant that is native to the countries of India and Sri Lanka. Though botanically classified as a berry, eggplant is used as a vegetable, for cooking purposes. Eggplant is also very popular as a major ingredient in salads. It comes in a variety of colors, especially purple, green and white. The skin of the vegetable is thin and edible and can be consumed after cooking. Its flesh is smooth and has a number of seeds, which are bitter when eaten raw. In the following lines, we will provide you a number of tips for growing eggplant at home.

How to Grow Eggplant

Things Needed

Paper Cutworm Collars
Cloches
Compost Makers
Eggplant Seeds
Fish Emulsions
Floating Row Covers
Garden Spades
Garden Stakes
Garden Trowels
Mulch
Plants
Lime

Instructions

First of all, you need to select the right site for your eggplant. Select an area which receives a lot of sunshine and has soil that is fertile, well-drained and rich in organic matter.
Eggplant needs lots of calcium to grow properly. So, it is advisable to add lime to the soil before planting.
You can either buy seedlings from your local nursery or start seed indoors. In the latter case, start 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost.
Prior to transplanting seedlings to the garden, whether homegrown or store-bought, it is necessary to harden them.
Before you go about planting seedlings in the garden, make sure that all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature is atleast 60 deg F.
Now, add half-shovelful of compost or well-rotted manure to each hole, before you set in the plant.
The distance between two seedlings should be 18 to 24 inches. In case of compact and dwarf varieties, the distance can be a little less also.
After planting the seedlings, place a paper collar around each stem. This will help deter cutworms.
In order to protect new plants from cold, wind and insects, it is advisable to add floating row covers or cloches.
Three weeks after transplanting the seedlings, spray the plants with compost tea or fish emulsion.
Use organic liquid fertilizer on the plants on a monthly basis.
Eggplants need to be watered once a week and the water level should be about an inch.
After the plants become established and the ground is warm, add mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds.
About three weeks before the first expected frost, pinch back new blossoms.
Pick eggplants as soon as they're big enough to use and till the time they lose their gloss.

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