The exact origin of eggplants is not known, but are said to be native to Africa, South Asia, and India where they grow wild. This background will help you to understand what eggplants really are and how you can successfully cultivate them, whether for personal consumption or business. So, before we get on with our eggplant growing guide, let's quickly go into a bit of eggplant' background, together. How did eggplants become one of the commonest household foods today?
#Eggplant seed starting how to
We’ll get down to details on how to grow your eggplant.īut, in the meantime, let’s find out more about these delicious plants (fruits, veggies, whatever you call them). This is to ensure they properly thrive, and, at the end of the day, yield you the biggest fruits you can use in making your delicious meals. Then, after about 8 weeks of germination, you can transfer them into your garden.
Pretty easy! The first thing to do is start them indoors, where they can get sufficient lighting. You just name it! Grills, sauces, oven-baked dishes, side dishes, etc., aubergines are perfect for making any of your sumptuous meals and are extremely healthy, too. Note that home-canned plain eggplant has previously been the source of Botulism poisoning.Eggplants are sometimes referred to as “superfoods." They're known to be one of the most versatile fruits in the culinary world and can be used in making different kinds of cuisines. There are some recipes for eggplant relish and pickled eggplant.Although you may blanch and freeze sliced eggplant, most gardeners do not consider this method good for preservation.They are sensitive to the cold, and their skins may become pitted after too long under refrigeration. Eggplants will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.Cover the plants if there are low temperatures in the forecast. Later in the season, cold nights will injure fruit left on the plant.Pick when the skins are still shiny and the fruit is firm. Do not let the eggplants hang on the plant once they are mature, because their quality will decline.As you continue to harvest, the plant will continue to produce flowers and set more fruit.You are likely to damage both the fruit and the plant. Do not try to pull the fruit from the plant.Harvest the eggplants when they have reached mature size, clipping them off with sharp shears.Gradually expose them to more sunlight over the next week or two, bringing them indoors if night temperatures drop below 55☏.Place plants outside where they will receive wind protection and a couple hours of sunlight.When plants are about five inches tall and eight to 10 weeks old, reduce watering.Pinch off the flower clusters until the plants are in the garden. Eggplants may start to flower while still indoors.Without enough bright light directly overhead, the stems of the little plants will lean over. Thin or transplant seedlings after true leaves appear so that seedlings are two to three inches apart, and grow under bright light.Provide bright overhead light for the seedlings.Carefully monitor potting mix moisture, as heating mats will dry the mix out faster. Use a heating mat to keep the flat at 75☏ to 85☏ until seedlings emerge.Plant seeds one-fourth inch deep, in flats containing sterile, soilless germination mix.Treat them as if you had started them yourself. If you buy plants from a mail-order catalog, you may need to keep them indoors until it is time to set them out. Do not buy plants with spots on their leaves, as you could be bringing disease into your garden. They should have stems at least the width of a pencil and the leaves should be closely spaced up the stem. If you buy plants from a garden center, choose sturdy plants up to a foot tall.
Do not apply mulch before the soil has warmed in the spring.
Apply phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) should be applied according to soil test recommendations.There are varieties available that thrive in Minnesota’s short summer season.
Eggplant ( Solanum melongena) is a relative of peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco.Įggplant needs warm conditions, and will not thrive during a cool season.
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