Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a member of the family Solanaceae and is botanically related to tomato, pepper and potato. Eggplants are native to India and China but were introduced to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region by Arabic traders.
Botany
Eggplants produce a bushy, vigorous plant with large leaves, woody stems and attractive flowers. Some eggplant cultivars can reach a height of 4.5 feet. Eggplants have a deep taproot, which helps them tolerate dry weather. Flowers are open for two to three days and are self-pollinated. However, bees may improve both pollination and yield of eggplant. Fruits vary in size and shape, from round to bell-shaped, oval or elongated. Oriental or Japanese eggplant cultivars have elongated fruit. The fruit surface of eggplant is smooth and glossy. Fruit color can be yellow, green, white, purple, black, violet or various combinations of these colors (Figure 1, Table 1).
Before choosing an eggplant cultivar for commercial production, make sure there is a market demand for that particular type of eggplant. Some consumers prefer specific shapes, colors and sizes of eggplants.
Figure 1. Eggplant fruit varies in shape, color and size.
Table 1. Suggested eggplant cultivars.
Table 1. Suggested eggplant cultivars.
Cultivar | Fruit color | Fruit shape | Days to harvest |
---|---|---|---|
Calliope | White/purple | Oval | 64 |
Casper | White | Bell-shaped | 70 |
Classic | Purple | Elongated | 76 |
Dusky | Purple/black | Bell-shaped | 56 |
Epic | Purple/black | Bell-shaped | 65 |
Fairy Tale | Purple/white stripes | Elongated | 65 |
Ghostbuster | White | Oval-shaped | 80 |
Ichiban | Purple | Elongated | 60 |
Little Fingers | Purple | Elongated | 65 |
Millionaire | Purple/black | Elongated | 55 |
Nadia | Purple/black | Oval-shaped | 65 |
Orient Charm | Pink/white | Elongated | 65 |
Rosa Bianca (Italian heirloom) | Violet/white | Round | 73 |
Santana | Purple/black | Oval-shaped | 80 |
Tango | White | Cylindrical | 60 |
Transplant production
Eggplants are most successfully established as transplants. Start with good quality seed, and sow the seed for transplants 8 to 10 weeks before the anticipated planting date. Eggplants can suffer transplant shock, so using a larger container size (2 inches or larger) to grow the transplant will be helpful. A starter solution containing phosphorus should be applied to each newly transplanted eggplant.
Planting date
Eggplants thrive in warm, dry weather but are more sensitive to low temperature injury than tomatoes and peppers. Therefore, eggplants need to be transplanted after all risk of frost has passed. Eggplants respond favorably to being grown on plastic mulch with drip irrigation. Black plastic mulch will accelerate crop growth because it keeps the root zone warm. For later plantings, white plastic mulch can be used. Transplanting date depends on geographical location.
Planting and fertilization
Choose a well-drained soil for planting eggplants. Although eggplants are deep-rooted, they do not grow well in poorly drained soil. The soil pH should be 6.0 to 7.0 for optimum growth. Plants can be spaced 18 to 36 inches apart with rows 4 to 5 feet apart. Eggplant can also be planted in twin rows with 18 to 36 inches between plants and between rows on raised beds 3 to 4 feet apart on center.
Sixty pounds of nitrogen per acre should be applied to the soil before planting with all the recommended phosphorus and potassium applied based on a recent soil test. If the eggplants are not being grown on plastic mulch, an additional 40 to 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre can be side dressed at first flowering (three weeks after transplanting). If plastic mulch and drip irrigation are being used, 10 pounds of nitrogen per acre can be injected into the drip irrigation system per week for four weeks, starting one week after transplanting. Irrigation may be needed through the production season to supplement natural rainfall.
Figure 2. Staked eggplant plants with growing fruit.
Figure 3. Staking eggplants improves marketable yield and quality.
Figure 2. Staked eggplant plants with growing fruit.
Figure 3. Staking eggplants improves marketable yield and quality.
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