If you live in areas with long, hot summers, you might want to try growing eggplants in your garden.
Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is one of the most common and popular vegetables you can grow in your garden.
It is also known by other names such as eggplant, eggplant, Eggplant, crazy apple etc
Growing eggplants in cooler regions can be tricky because the plants are very cold-sensitive.
Eggplant grows well in warm weather and is usually harvested in mid to late summer.
How to grow organic eggplants in your garden
There is nothing better than home grown organic vegetables. The taste and aroma of eggplants will be much better if you grow them organically in your garden. However, here we tell everything about growing eggplant organically in the vegetable garden.
Choose the variety
First, you need to choose a variety to grow in your garden. There are many varieties of eggplants all over the world.
And all these varieties differ in size, shape, growth characteristics, color and even ripening time. You should choose a variety that grows well in your area.
Some common and popular eggplant varieties are Black Beauty, Ichiban, Easter Egg, Little Fingers, Japanese, Newty, etc.
Buy seeds
Eggplant seeds are available almost everywhere in the world. You can easily find and buy seeds at any seed store near you.
The best time to grow eggplants
As we mentioned above, “eggplant grows well in the warmer months.”
If you want to grow eggplant in cooler northern regions, consider planting seeds indoors about 6 weeks before the last spring frost, then transplanting the seedlings when there is no risk of frost.
In southern tropical or subtropical regions, “eggplant can be grown all summer”.
Soil preparation for eggplant cultivation
Eggplant grows very well in sandy or sandy loam soils with good drainage and plenty of organic matter.
The pH level for growing eggplant should be between 6.3 and 6.8.
When preparing the soil for growing eggplant, apply a sufficient amount of well-rotted and seasoned manure or homemade compost.
planting
You can either plant seeds directly in the ground or transplant seedlings to grow eggplants.
Plant the seeds 5 to 6 weeks before planting in the garden, or when the seedlings are 3 to 4 inches tall.
Plant the seedlings in rows 24 to 30 inches apart in well-prepared beds. There should be at least 30 inches between rows.
Care
After planting seedlings, eggplants require additional care for better growth and a good harvest. Here are the steps for caring for eggplant.
Feed / fertilizer
You will need to fertilize eggplant regularly for better plant growth. Fertilize seedlings immediately after transplanting.
Also saturate the plants with organic fertilizers as they grow.
tearing
Since eggplant grows in the summer months, you will need to water the plants frequently and keep the soil moist.
Don’t let the plants dry out or you won’t get the best crop. Also water the plants well immediately after transplanting.
Mulching
Mulching is necessary not only to retain moisture in the soil, but also to prevent most weeds. To do this, you can use cut grass, dry leaves or straw.
Provide support
Some eggplant varieties grow very long and require support to grow. Thus, you will need to put the plants on cola to support them.
Cannabis control
Weeds can create problems when growing eggplants. Weeds take most of the nutrients from the soil.
Therefore, weed control is very important. You can use a hoe to control weeds. Do not use sprays or chemicals to control weeds.
Pests and diseases
Eggplants are prone to several pests and diseases. Flea beetles are perhaps the most common pests of eggplants.
They will make small holes in the leaves, which will seriously weaken the young plants. But in most cases, healthy plants should be able to withstand damage from their tiny holes.
Verticillium wilt and powdery mildew can affect eggplants and sometimes tomato hornworms. Biological methods should be used to control these pests and diseases.
Harvest
Eggplant is not really a fast growing vegetable. They will need more time to grow and bear fruit.
Harvest can be expected 16-24 weeks after sowing the seeds. Harvest the eggplants when they reach the desired size and don’t wait too long.
Do not pull the fruit while harvesting, rather cut it with a sharp knife or pruning shears. Cut close to the stem, leaving about an inch from the stem.
Growing eggplants organically in your garden will be easy if you follow the instructions mentioned above. Hope you enjoyed this guide! Happy gardening 🙂
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