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	The eggplant is a very tender plant that requires a long, warm season for successful production.   Great tips for managing your garden, from initial planning straight through to planting and maintenance.

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Browse Articles: Horticulture Growing Eggplant in the Home Garden Submit your comments, tips, or suggestions you'd like to share with other users regarding this article. Reference: Ohio State University Extension The eggplant is probably a native of India and has been cultivated for a long time. It is a member of the nightshade family, making it a close relative of the tomato, pepper and potato. When compared to its relatives, the eggplant is of limited importance. Its use in appealing dishes make this vegetable highly desired by those familiar with it. Climate The eggplant is a very tender plant that requires a long, warm season for successful production. The plants are killed by light frost and are injured by long periods of chilly, frostless weather. Plants should not be set out until all danger of frost has passed. Fertilizer and Lime Lime and fertilizer applications are best based on a soil test. In general, two pounds each of actual nitrogen, phosphorus (P2O5), and potash (K2O) per 1,000 square feet of garden space is adequate. An additional application of one pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. after the fruit has set may be helpful to maintain plant development. Apply lime only if indicated by soil test results; pH should be maintained between 6.0 and 6.8. Culture The use of plastic mulch can increase the yield of eggplant by helping to warm the soil, by conserving moisture, and by controlling weeds. Plants may be planted in staggered double rows on each strip of plastic. Place the plastic on 5 foot centers and allow 18 inches between plants in each of the staggered rows. Because of the need for a long, warm growing season, it is best to use transplants. These may be purchased or started in peat pots or pellets 8 to 10 weeks before the anticipated planting time. Varieties Extension Bulletin 736, Vegetables for Ohio Gardens recommends the following cultivated varieties, or "cultivars:" Oval or elongated oval shaped Harris Special Hibush Burpee Hybrid Black Magic Classic Dusky Black Beauty Long, slim shaped Little fingers Ichiban Tycoon White skinned, oval shaped Casper Easter Egg Insects, Mites, and Diseases Insect and mite pests of eggplant include flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and spider mites. Potato flea beetles eat small holes in leaves and can be particularly serious on small plants. Colorado potato beetle adults and larvae feed on eggplant leaves and can completely defoliate small plants if not controlled. Some Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) insecticides will control small larvae and are very safe to use. Hand removal of larger larvae and adults is also useful. Four-year rotations with non-related crops and using plants grown from disease-free seeds will help control some eggplant diseases. A particularly damaging disease in eggplant is Verticillium wilt. It causes stunting in plants and interveinal yellowing, wilting, and dying of leaves. Avoid tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, okra, raspberries, or strawberries in rotation with eggplant. Harvest The fruits of the eggplant are edible from the time they are one-third grown until ripe. They remain in an edible condition for several weeks after they become colored and fully grown. Skin should be shiny; seeds inside should not be brown or hard. Harvest will continue over an extended period if the fruit are removed when they are well-colored and of adequate size. The fruits are usually cut from the plants since the stems are hard and woody. The large calyx (cap) and a short piece of stem are left on the fruit. Plants of most cultivars have sharp spines, so care is necessary when harvesting to prevent injury. Submit your comments, tips, or suggestions you'd like to share with other users regarding this article.

 

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Data Source: Ohio State University Extension. Articles and resource may contain pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. These recommendations are provided only as a guide and it is always the pesticide applicator's responsibility, by law, to read and follow all current label directions for the specific pesticide being used.