Guide to Growing Eggplant

Eggplant is part of the Solanaceae plant family and native to Southern Asia. Eggplants are perennial plants, highly sensitive to cold weather. Eggplant fruits are versatile vegetables used for many culinary dishes.

Types

The three categories for the varieties of eggplants are large oval fruit, elongated fruit, and ornamental fruit. Some cultivars of eggplants include dusky, little finger, and Easter egg. Dusky eggplants are oval-shaped vegetables. Little fingers are slim, elongated eggplants. The Easter egg variety has an egg shape with white skin.

Planting

Eggplants are very tender plants that require warm weather to fully mature, so plant the eggplants after the last spring frost. Eggplants are ideal to transplant, according to the University of Illinois. Eggplants grow best with a nitrogen-based fertilizer and moist soil, notes Ohio State University. Place the eggplants 18 to 24 inches apart, with 30 to 36 inches of space between rows.

Harvesting

Eggplant fruits ready for harvest have resilient skin. To test if the fruit is ready for harvest, press on the skin and watch for it to bounce back. Cut the eggplant allowing the cap and part of the stem to remain intact. Harvest the vegetables gently, since eggplants bruise easily.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Eggplant
• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Eggplant in the Home Garden