Current Facts
- Common Name: Eggplant. Also, commonly known as aubergines. The word “aubergine” comes from the ancient language of Sanskrit.
- Botanical Name: Solanum melongena
- Family: Solanaceae
- Plant Type: Eggplants are technically berries but are regarded as vegetables when cooking.
- Size: 2–4 ft. tall, 1–3 ft. wide
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline (5.5 to 7.5)
- Bloom Time: Summer
- Hardiness Zones: 9b–12a (USDA)
- Native Area: Asia
Plant Description
Eggplant is a small- to medium-sized bush vegetable that produces smooth, glossy skinned fruit that can vary in length from 5 to 10 inches long. Eggplants have large, fuzzy, grayish-green leaves and produce star-shaped lavender flowers with yellow centers. This beloved edible fruit can be long and slender or round or egg-shaped fruit. Fruit is creamy-white, yellow, brown, purple, or sometimes almost black. Eggplants can grow 2 to 6 feet tall, depending on the variety.
Why Growing Eggplants in Containers?
Saving space is the main reason to grow eggplants in containers. Container gardening is the perfect option for those who don’t have big yards or gardens!
How to Grow Eggplants in containers
Eggplant with its attractive glossy fruits, it’s a beautiful crop to grow in the garden. Some varieties are long and thin, others as small as grapes, with colours that range from black to white and even orange. This is an incredibly rewarding crop and easy to grow when conditions are right. It is one of the easiest vegetables to grow and one of the most beautiful too. It is a soft and delectable vegetable that is popular with home gardeners.
Choose The Right Container
Choose a container with a minimum size of 3 gallons, bigger is better, this extra space will allow enough room for the roots to grow. Ensure the container has drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging. (ads1)
Since eggplant is bound to get heavy, with all the fruits hanging off it, you’ll want to invest in a sturdy container that won’t tip over easily.
Choose the right eggplant variety
Look for eggplant varieties that are suitable for container gardening. Compact and dwarf varieties work best as they are more manageable in limited spaces.
Patio Baby', a prodigiously prolific dwarf eggplant variety, offers up a summer-long harvest, each plant producing 25-50 luscious baby eggplants. Container-friendly 16-20" plants make a striking impression on the patio, clustered with egg-shaped, 2-3" purple-black fruit. Loaded with rich, mild, sweet flavor, mini-fruits (never eaten raw) are delicious baked, roasted, or sautéed. They're also excellent as a side dish, or starring in salads or dips. Thornless leaves and calyxes make for painless harvesting. Small pale-lavender blooms appear in spring. Thriving in any climate, 'Patio Baby' is a great choice for the shorter growing seasons of the Northeast and Midwest. No staking required. Seed packet contains 30 non-gmo eggplant seeds for planting.
Prepare The Soil
I always recommend investing in high quality soil for better results!
This is the all-purpose organic potting soil that fits all your needs; convenience, quality tested organic ingredients and a proven track record of performance
But you can create your own soil by combining equal parts of homemade compost, coco coir, and perlite. This will provide the necessary nutrients and good drainage for the eggplant to grow.
The biggest keys to success in organic gardening is the condition of the soil. Eggplant performs best in a rich, organic, free draining soil. Eggplant is easy to grow if your soil has the proper nutrients. There needs to be adequate organic matter to hold moisture and nutrients. And at the same time, the soil needs to be loose enough for good aeration and drainage, which will help promote strong root development.
Starting eggplants from seeds or seedlings!
You can either start eggplant seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date or purchase seedlings from a nursery.
Planting Time
Transplant eggplant seedlings outside when the soil temperature is a minimum of 65°F.
Watch How To Transplant Eggplant Seedlings Video
Planting Seedlings
The key to healthy eggplant growth is to plant seedlings in warm soil and provide them with the right amount of water, food, and sunshine!
- Transplant the seedlings into the container when they have 3–4 leaves and are around 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) tall.
- You can plant one seedling in medium container. Or two in bigger one, spacing 24–30 inches (61–76 cm) apart.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than your seedlings' roots, and gently place the seedlings in the hole and fill the space around it with soil.
- Water well.
- Add a layer of mulch to your new plants, mulching will help prevent the growth of weeds and keep your plants warm. Straw, grass clipping are good, but compost is one of the best choices as mulch for plants growing in containers because it will help improve the soil texture over time.
Direct Sowing Seeds in Containers
- Eggplant seed can be sown directly in the garden if the soil temperature is warm enough.
- You can direct-sow seeds into your container outdoors.
- Plant three seeds a quarter of an inch deep in the container.
- Water gently.
- Make sure the containers are located in an area that receives full sun.
- Keep the soil moist until germination occurs.
- Within two or three weeks. Seedlings should emerge.
- Once they have one or two sets of true leaves, thin them to just one seedling. You can carefully transplant the other seedlings to other containers if you end up with two or three seedlings!
- If you’re growing in a larger container (5 gallons), thin so that there are just two seedlings.
Sunlight Needs
Eggplant loves heat and full sun and requires evenly moist soil in its native environment to thrive and fruit heavily, So choose a sunny location.
Eggplants need a minimum of 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Place the container in a location that receives ample sunlight throughout the day.
Watering
Eggplants require consistent moisture but avoid overwatering, as it can lead to root rot. Water the container deeply whenever the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry. Ensure that the excess water drains out of the container.
Flowers Pollination
Eggplants are self-fertile, and the flowers are pollinated by wind or bees.
Fertilizing
Use organic fertilizers to provide essential nutrients. You can apply a balanced organic fertilizer when transplanting and then supplement it with a liquid organic fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
Supporting The Plant
If you are planting a heavy fruit variety, you’ll need to support the plant with a stake because plants laden with heavy fruits are prone to falling over. Consider staking the plant early on so as not to disturb the soil and the plant later. Eggplants are heavy fruit bearers and might need support to prevent the branches from breaking. Install a stake or cage early on to provide support as the plant grows.
Monitoring Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for common eggplant pests such as aphids, flea beetles, and caterpillars.
Use organic pest control methods like handpicking, insecticidal soaps, or neem oil to manage them. Also, regularly inspect the plant for signs of diseases like powdery mildew and treat them promptly with organic fungicides if necessary.
Companion Plants
To enjoy growing healthy eggplants, you need to give your plants the best possible environment to grow by planting companion plants near your eggplants. Companion planting is an excellent way to improve the health and the good growth of your plants.
Growing and picking your own organic eggplant can be very satisfying. But pests can damage your crop, or you may get a smaller harvest if your eggplants are stressed. Plant companion plants near your plants, and you'll have fewer pest problems to worry about. Plus, you'll keep your plants healthy and productive naturally!
Benefits of eggplants companion planting:
- Repelling pests.
- Improving soil quality.
- Attracting beneficial insects and pollinators.
I hope that you find ways for companion planting to help improve your eggplants growing!
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Pruning
If growing eggplant as an annual. Pruning typically isn’t necessary. But if you live where it’s perennial, a little pruning on a mature plant can help to revitalize it.
- Leave the main stem, along with the first two stems that branch off from it.
- After the plant has produced most of its eggplants for the season, remove the rest of the stems.
- This pruning should encourage vigorous new growth for the next growing season.
- Prune off any suckers around the base of the plant, so the plant can put its energy into eggplant production.
Plant Care
- Give each plant a deep soak of water once or twice a week.
- Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the pot.
- If using a tomato cage, place it when you plant the seeds or at transplant seedlings, before the plant develop roots, so the plants are not disturbed.
- Fertilize with a balanced, vegetable-specific fertilizer up until the first blooms appear, and then switch to a tomato fertilizer with higher ratios of potassium and phosphorus.
- Water the plants more regularly as the temperatures rise and fruits appear.
- To encourage fewer, larger fruit, pinch off the first flower as it appears, and thin fruits to four per plant. As the plants grow.
- Eggplants thrive and make the biggest fruits during the summer heat, you have to be sure during the summer heat that you water frequently and make sure the soil stays moist. Don’t let the plants dry out. The soil should be moist but not soggy!
Harvesting Eggplants
Eggplant Health Benefits
The health benefits of eggplants are derived from their vitamins, mineral, and nutrient content. Eggplants have a high water content, and are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, phosphorus, dietary fiber, folic acid, manganese and potassium. Considering their many health benefits, eggplants are a vegetable you may want to try growing in containers today!
Watch How To Grow Eggplants In Containers Video
By following these guidelines and providing the necessary care, you can successfully grow organic eggplants in containers, and enjoy your homegrown, organic produce!
Please let us know your thoughts, experiences, or questions in the comments below. If you like this, you can share with your friends!
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Big selection of Eggplant Seeds ➡️ Here!
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