How long does it take to grow an eggplant

How long does it take for eggplant to grow after flowering? Depending on the variety and the region in which you are gardening, different cultivars of eggplant will develop mature fruit within 50 to 80 days after flowering.

Harvest eggplant 65 to 80 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. When starting from seed, expect 100 to 120 days to maturity. July, August, and September (even into October) are all harvest months for eggplant, depending on where you live and the variety you planted.

Ben Vanheems has covered growing eggplant in cooler climates, but even if you have plenty of heat, eggplant can be a tricky crop. After growing eggplant in several different places, I have learned five valuable tips worth sharing.

Number of fruits is highly dependent on variety with smaller fruited types like those by Baker Creek Seeds often producing 30-40 fruits per plant.

When to Plant Eggplant

Eggplants can only grow in warm soil—50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. The best time to plant eggplant is in late spring after the last threat of frost. Eggplants have a long growing season, so you’ll need to start them indoors around eight weeks before your region’s last frost date.

As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day. … Keep in mind, though, that no vegetable can thrive in deep, dense shade.

Yes, it’s wise to create a support for eggplants. Staking eggplant keeps the fruit from touching the ground, which in turn, reduces the risk of disease and fosters fruit shape, especially for elongated eggplant varieties. … Staking eggplant also makes for easier harvesting.

Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.

Although eggplant is a perennial, it is more commonly grown as an annual.

As the plants grow and bear, they will need support. I use tomato cages or wire loops to give my eggplants a shoulder to lean on. Asian varieties will grow to about 18 inches tall, and the larger-fruited plants usually grow 24 to 36 inches tall. If you’ve treated the crop well, you should have a bountiful harvest.

Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions. Again, be sure not to shade the eggplant. Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.

Watering. Eggplant also needs consistent water, at least 1 inch per week. It is better to give one thorough soaking than several frequent, short waterings, because frequent watering promotes shallow roots.

The eggplant plants live through one season. After harvesting the final fruits, the plant dies, and it’s time to plant new one’s next season.

Eggplant harvest may begin when the fruits are developed and small, but growing fruits to full size before harvesting eggplants results in more fruit for usage. Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible.

Yes, vertical gardening with eggplants is indeed a possibility. The benefit to eggplant, or any veggie, is that it keeps the plant and resulting fruit off the ground and away from any pests that might want a snack, and lowers the chances of soil-borne diseases.

Pruning Eggplant Suckers

Even if you don’t want to cut back your eggplant drastically, it’s a good idea to remove suckers. … Pinching off these suckers when they‘re small will allow the plant to focus more of its energy on fruit production, resulting in larger, more impressive eggplants.

Pollination and Fruit Set for Indoor Eggplants

Eggplants are self-pollinating, but they rely upon the wind and insect activity to move pollen to flowers. … With a bit of extra work, growing eggplants inside is possible, and you can expect some fruit with good care.

apart is fine, although 2 ½ feet (76 cm.) apart will keep you from accidentally breaking branches as you are harvesting your eggplant fruits. If you are planting lots of eggplant and need rows, leave an area 30-36 inches (76-91 cm.) … Multiple plantings can go in a long planter with at least 18 inches (46 cm.)

Prune your eggplant early so that a leaf canopy forms before fruiting to prevent sunburning the fruit. Continue to prune your eggplant periodically throughout the growing season or severely if production drops off for a new flush of leaves and flowers. … You will want to remove all suckers from your eggplant.

With these plants, pollen must move from the male to female parts of the same flower or to another flower on the same plant. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are our most common self-pollinated garden plants.