Master Gardeners of Rutherford County
  • Welcome
  • Community Education
    • Garden Basics Course
    • Master Gardener Training course
    • Farmers Market Workshop
    • Limbaugh Library Series
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Apps for Gardeners
    • Helpful Links
  • Master Gardeners
    • MG Certification
    • MG Projects >
      • Butterfly Garden
      • Diagnostic Clinic
      • Farmers Market
      • Fruit Orchard
      • Rain Garden
      • Vegetable Beds
      • Vinyard
    • Green Initiative
    • Bylaws
    • Request MG Program Info
  • Members Only
    • 2021 Board
    • 2020 Team Leaders
    • 2020 Financials
    • 2021 Financials
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Assc Meeting Minutes
    • Member Directory
    • Service & CEU Hours 2020
    • Report Hours ACT
  • How to
    • Fruits & Nuts
    • Plant & Soil Care
    • Good, Bad & Ugly
    • Plant Propagation
    • Tools, Tips & Tricks
  • Events
  • Ask Us!
  • Blog
    • Vegetable Gardening
  • Photos
  • Contact Us
  • Advance Form

Eggplant (Solanum melongena var. esculentum)

Picture
Click picture to enlarge
Sowing:

Seed Depth:
Germination Soil Temp:
Days to Germinate   
Date to sow Indoors:
Date to sow Outdoors



1/4 inch
85 Degrees
7
4 - 6 weeks before last frost
Not recommended
Growing:

pH Range:
Growing Temp:
Spacing:
Watering:
Light:
Nutrient Req's:
Rotation:

Seed Longevity:


5.5 - 7.0
80 - 90 Degrees
18 inches
Heavy
Full sun
Moderate N, High P and K
Do not follow Tomato
Follow Bean or Pea
4 years

Description


Soil


Fertilizer



Planting


Cultivation Care


Companions

Varieties

Harvest

Health Benefits
Eggplants are members of the nightshade family.  They are warm-season, tropical plants.  Fruits are white or purple with smooth skin. They are named for their oval or egg shape.

Soil should be well-drained and organically enriched. It is recommended that compost be added at incorporation and as mulch. Soil for eggplant needs to be rotated every year.

These plants benefit from composted manure or from 3 pounds of 6-12-12 or 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square foot that is incorporated into the soil before planting. Over fertilization can cause excessive foliage growth, which will reduce fruit production.

Plants should be placed 2 feet apart in 3 foot rows. They do best if they are seeded indoors or if they are purchased as transplants. Planting should be done on May 1 or June 20.

Eggplant benefits from mulch. Depending on the fruit size, a cage or stake may help support the plant. Plants need to be monitored for beetle damage. Use row covers to exclude insect pests. Plants do not need to be pollinated by insects.

Basil, dill, marigolds, cosmos, bush bean, pea, pepper

Black Beauty, Burpee Hybrid, Easter Egg, Little Finger, and Ichiban

Fruit is ripe when the finger has resistance as it slides down the fruit.  If the fruit is soft, then it is overripe.

Eggplant provides fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B1 and B6

> Back to the Vegetable Page

Source: UT Extension, PB1578 - Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute
of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment
Photo used under Creative Commons from krossbow