How to Grow Perfect Eggplants Every Time - 5 MISTAKES to Avoid
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- Have you run into a wall growing eggplants at home from seed? Do you wish your homegrown eggplants produced bigger, tastier fruits? We've been there. Luckily, it's actually very simple to grow lots of healthy eggplants from seed at home if you can avoid a handful of easy-to-make mistakes.
Eggplants produce either 1) Loads of delicious fruit OR 2) A couple bitter fruits you can't even eat. Let's make sure we grow the best eggplant harvest possible!
In this video, you’ll learn 5 easy-to-make eggplant growing mistakes to avoid for a giant eggplant harvest and endless eggplant parmesans, stir fries, and curries for months to come.
We’ll be going through everything from mistakes that make eggplant bitter to mistakes that result in small plants and even things that can outright kill your eggplants. Join us and let’s grow some eggplants!
Written article version of this video if you'd rather read than watch: nextdoorhomestead.com/blog/eg...
Chapters:
00:00 Why Grow Eggplants?
01:20 Mistake 1 - Transplanting with tomatoes
03:33 Mistake 2 - Not pruning properly
04:48 Mistake 3 - Underwatering during fruiting
07:41 Mistake 4 - Harvesting too late
09:24 Mistake 5 - Growing "interesting" instead of "productive" varieties
11:14 Bonus Tip - How to get 100% fruit set
Equipment you might want to follow this video
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Ping Tung Seeds: www.amazon.com/Davids-Garden-...
Millionaire Seeds: tomatogrowers.com/products/mi...
Helpful Links and Resources
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Our Eggplant Pruning Guide: • How to Prune Eggplants...
Research Report: High Tunnel Eggplant Varieties, Pruning & Postharvest Storage - extension.unh.edu/sites/defau...
#eggplants #gardening #homesteading - Навчання та стиль
I see a lot of Italian seniors growing eggplants in containers, and they look amazing!
This is so helpful! I can't wait to implement this in our eggplants out in the garden.
I'm so glad to hear that! Best of luck with your eggplants =) We're frying up a few tonight ourselves.
Good info. We have so many great eggplant recipes so growing is a must.
For those in the tropics. Plant when 4 inches plus. Small ones struggle with pests. At least in my case. 30 in the ground now. 5 different varieties. His advice is on point. My eggplants look crazy healthy since pruning them. In my case the lower leaves especially to make the ants work harder for their food ( aphids, etc.)
Agree. Eggplant are slow growers so transplanting bigger is better. I don't usually prune except if the branches touch the ground. I put out ant bait around the plants that attract ants. I also have greenhouse frogs that eat ants.
@@imafan2610 we also have a year around growing season for eggplants so I can generally get 2-3 years out of an eggplant before it stops producing properly. The pruning is usually just to remove stringy or unhealthy stems :)
How long is the plant’s lifespan?
@@kurkrogers I have multiple different varieties in-ground already 3 years old but I live in Central Florida I've grown everything from the little Indian eggplants the long thin Japanese eggplant add black beauties inground and in 5 gal buckets
This is SO much good info. Thank you!
Ah, that's wonderful to hear Stephanie - thank you for watching!
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
What a great video! Learned so much. Can't wait for harvest!
Yay! So glad to hear it! We're loving the eggplants this season =)
Awesome video!! Thanks🤓
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thanks for watching 😁
Thank you, this year was the first time I planted eggplant and really knew nothing about the care of the plants. This video has been very helpful and I believe mine are ready to harvest now. I planted lettuce also, never having done that before either and unfortunately they bolted so I’m cutting them back to the stem and moving them more in a shaded area. We’ve had relentless heat this summer so I know now to grow them in a different area of my yard with less sun. But thank you again for the info on my Eggplants. I subscribed to you, seeing as vegetable gardening is new to me, I will be seeking out your advice more I’m sure. Thanks
Oh good, I'm so glad it was helpful! I did make a video with some of my favorite lettuce growing tips and tricks as well in case you want to hear how we handle them =)
Otherwise, best of luck in the garden and enjoy those eggplants!
Very good, insightful video! I've had bumper crop years, and others where the fruits were few and small. Thank you for the knowledge!
Awesome! Glad it was useful. And yeah, same! Seems to be the way for berries in my garden =)
Amazing video! Thank you for such great explanations! I think your channel is highly under-rated!
Thank you for that =)
Are you planning on growing some eggplants this year?
subscribed! Love the channel!
Thank you for joining *and* for the kind words!
Nice video, very usefull!
Thank you for saying so!
Great points in this video!
I’ve always said, I plant and grow my eggplants like they’re peppers (but with more water), and I pick them like they’re squash. I like the cucumber comparison as well!
Subscribed ❤ thank you great video
Thanks for watching =) I hope you enjoy our future videos too!
Thank you for the reminder to subscribe. I thought I was already lol
I like these videos!
Thank you for joining up - love it!!!
And I'm so glad you're enjoying them =)
Sure appreciate your knowledge and your share. Some great learning for me, thank you. I learned that eggplant does very well in my Carolina summer heat. Can you share your grow zone, and some good target dates for your success. I am zone 8b.
Hey John, no problem at all! Love hearing it was helpful.
We're in zone 9 and eggplants generally do best here planted out mid to late May. We do have somewhat cooler nights for longer than other zone 9 locations, which is why it takes us a bit longer to get them out there (this year I was forced to plant a bit early though!).
The way you asked for the like/sub was genuine af. So I gotchu 👍.
Ah, thank you very much. I really appreciate that! I hope you enjoy our upcoming videos =)
Thank you!! This was very helpful. I am new to growing pot veggies and fruits. I decided on eggplants to be my first and realized my errors or "why?'
Good on you for choosing eggplants! They're the best and so many folks forget about them 😁
Good luck!
thank you for your video, within the first sections it told me what i needed to know which was that here in new york it is a fool's errand without a spring greenhouse of some sort. which, not that much land here so. thanks
you also made me wonder about a dutch bucket hydroponics set-up also. so thank you twice
You're most welcome for the video! If it's something you wanted to grow, I think a combination of starting them indoors 8 weeks early and growing a very fast-producing variety like millionaire would be a reasonable plan =)
But no harm in prioritizing other crops!
Eggplant are slow to grow in the beginning but once they start flowering, you will have abundant fruit every 8-10 days. Unless you are eating a lot of eggplant, one or two plants are all you need. In subtropical and tropical climates eggplants are staples. They can live up to 8 years and get about 5 ft tall in a mild winter climate. You can also grow them from stem cuttings.
I didn't realize they could live that long actually! Do you live somewhere they perennialize naturally?
Thank you for sharing your experiences!
@@NextdoorHomestead I live in Hawaii. Eggplant is a common backyard plant. It is a perennial here because we don't have frost. I usually replace my eggplant after three years because the production goes down and I don't want a five foot tall and four foot wide plant taking up so much space in my small yard. They don't set seed. The birds like papaya, peppers, tomatoes, bitter melon, and other fruit better and those pop up anywhere in the yard. I have wild tomatoes and bitter melon in the yard now. If you let the eggpplant turn yellow and then brown you can save the seeds. The eggplant is basically pureed in a food processor with a dough blade so it won't cut the seeds with a litlle water and then the seeds are strained out and dried. The birds like other fruit better so they don't eat the eggplant much.
I live in Perth Australia so warmth is not a issue. I planted Italian and Beefsteak tomatoes in Autumn (Fall) and they have grown very strong, it is winter here now and they are producing very nice tomatoes, so I am hopeful for my Eggplants that I plan on planting at the end of winter
Best of luck! We've been really enjoying the early eggplants this year and can't wait for some of the beefsteak tomatoes to ripen up =)
You are amazing❤
Well thank you! I hope your garden is starting off amazingly this year!
Super helpful! Have you tried potting up (burying the stem) of the eggplants as you grow the seedlings indoors to increase the depth of the root mass? Something similar to what you've shown in your tomato videos - does an eggplant behave the same way as a tomato plant in that way?
Hey Robbie! Nice to hear from you again!
Honestly, I haven't. Anecdotally, most folks seem to think it's a fine thing to do but doesn't generate that significantly additive root system like with a tomato. But I think it's silly that I haven't at least tried it and taken a look at the end of the season myself.
This article (and others) recommend it and that's certainly a reputable source. mgorange.ucanr.edu/Edible_Plants/?ds=530&uid=93
I think for me, I'd be most interested in trying it with early transplants as our wind storms tend to be more destructive late Spring here. Might give them a boost.
@@NextdoorHomestead Ok, thank you! I think I was mainly using the search term "potting up", and that I didn't realize it doesn't necessarily mean burying the stem, which threw off my research. Thanks for sending the extension link!
@robiejaeger what you described as “potting up” in tomato growing parlance is known as hilling the plant as in building a hill.
I like an love it
Thanks! Last year's eggplants didn't grow past 2 to 3 inch globes instead of the 'Whopper' size they were supposed to be. I tried the Ping Tung seeds, but for some reason they didn't germinate, will be trying a different vendor next year.
Oh that's frustrating! I will say that the Ping Tung doesn't seem to be a super vigorous (emergent) seed. Our Ping Tung seedlings are always a bit behind at first.
I'm hoping your eggplant garden is more productive this year!!!
What size grow bag are you using for your plant or do you recommened in general? Ty for great video, from central Florida!
You are so welcome! I use 10 gallons grow bags almost exclusively because they are such a flexible, convenient size. Great for a single large tomato, an eggplant with an herb, two peppers, etc. 10 gallons works for most things except winter squash really.
Best of luck with your garden!
I took your advise and had a bumper crop in grow bags. Zone 5. Tks. Blk Beauties
That's what I like to hear! Seriously so excited to grow some eggplants 😁
Great video!111 had eggplant for years with random results
Thank you so much for saying so =)
I really hope this is your year on the eggplant front!
Thank you very.
You're very, very welcome! Thanks for stoppin' by =)
@@NextdoorHomestead looks like I forgot to finish my sentence. I purchased an eggplant that’s about three inches. I was wondering when to transplant it. I’ll wait at least another week. It’ll give my a chance to get my planter and stakes together. It’s nice to have good info.
My favorite plant, I eat so many eggplant in the summer.
Hahahaha us too! I planted over 20 and am starting to worry it's not enough....
Good advice. I don't see a lot of videos about eggplant, but I grow them every year. I assume the same advice goes for large ones also like black beauty. I never thought about trying to over winter them here in the mid atlantic.
Awesome, thanks for watching!
My experience with the larger varieties like black beauty is all the same advice generally applies... they're just tougher to grow 0_o. Just have to be a bit more diligent! =)
I love eggplants!
Me too! Just got done eating some in pasta - yum! =)
It's crazy I've never topped my eggplant. I definitely do with peppers and other fast flowering herbs😊, but i haven't with these babies.
I started mine from seed this year and man, they sure do take their time. Incidentally, ALL my seeds germinated so I hope my neighbors like eggplant!
Anyway, good info, good video and channel. Subscribed.
100% germination rate is the best feeling =)
Ours are finally putting on some size and some flowers and are ready for pruning round one. Can't believe it's that time of year already...
And thank you for joining up!
Back again a year later😊
Man, I had eggplant coming out of my ears last year. They killed it were delicious.
Yesterday I transplanted mine into fabric pots as I do every year. I use them for everything. Eggplant, 11 different varieties of peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, herbs, you name it. I love grow bags.
Anyway, just buzzed off morning coffee and saying hello and happy growing! ☮️
Ha! I just came in from planting out my eggplants and it is 50 degrees at night. Wish I saw this video an hour earlier...
I'm sure they'll thrive! What kind did you plant out?
Oh yeah, they’ll be fine BUUUUTTT won’t do anything.
I am from Taiwan and straight away remember I used to eat these, perfect size and shape!!
Your electric toothbrush method is fantastic. If possible could you go into depth on which plants this works with and which it is useless? If you have time :) There's a scientific term for the plants that self pollinate ( male and female both) but it's lost somewhere. Cheers .
Haha I've thought about doing a pollination video actually! I think it's a fun topic.
You may be thinking of monoecious, or "perfect", or "complete".
@@NextdoorHomestead I've had a UA-cam channel in the past. Thanks again for all the effort you put into these.
I am growing eggplants for the first time this year. My plants have looked great and I have fruit on each variety (Ping Tung and Black Beauty) However the fruit seems to get to a certain size (Black Beauty-about tennis ball size) and they do not get any larger. They have remained this way for weeks. One of the fruits have even started to turn a yellowish-gold brown color. I have gotten one fruit off the Ping Tung, but they never get that pretty purple like yours in this video. Is there something I can do to get the fruit to grow bigger? They seem to be stunted. Thanks for any input you can give!
The yellowish gold fruits are likely overripe - I let some of mine go too long recently as well actually.
What are temperatures like in your area and what are you growing the plants in? Very likely either an issue of temperature or nutrients.
It's been very hot here. I'm in central ARKANSAS.
First time growing an eggplant. I did not suspect how productive this plant is!
I really do not see how you can mess up this plant!
Nice! Hope you're loving the bounty =)
We've been making lots of baba ganoush this year with ours!
I messed up some what my egg plants are growing but the bugs are having a blast the look great in colour though yet smaller than a cherry tomato 😂 perhaps next season
I’m struggling! My eggplants leaves are starting to turn brown and some are crispy brittles but not all of them. I planted them in August I live in Florida and I just need to know if I should cut the problem leaves / stems off??
Heya! If you have a limited number of leaves that look severely damaged from the sun, yes, I would go ahead and remove those. Do you think it's a watering or sunscald issue?
question ? Sun or shade, or both, i love for my plants to get morning sun only, I live in Florida, first year for egg plants in pots, Help !!
Generally full sun is going to be your best bet for eggplants. If you start struggling with blossom drop though, you might need to add some shade cloth - it will depend on how often your temperatures go into the 90s and stay there.
Honestly like
What is the recommended size of the grow bag for planting eggplant ? 😊
I'm a fan of ten gallon bags because they're so versatile. But you can do a 7 gallon with good feeding and watering. Even a 5 gallon will work for some of the smaller varieties 😁
Thank you
Mine are in dirt, and doing ok.
What can I give them to help them push their growth?
Heya! Do they seem to be putting on size, flowering, and fruiting well? If so, you can let it ride =)
Always a good idea to have a plan for sidedressing with a vegetable fertilizer (something moderate in nitrogen and containing plenty of potassium) to help them fruit consistently and throughout the season.
Also make sure you're pruning properly (3-4 growing leaders).
Cheers!
@@NextdoorHomestead oh huge! Bigger by they day, plenty of flowers and good looking leaves.
I got um(and peppers and tomatillos) in containers way back in June.
Can I get a jump on it because I bought them they were like 6 inches tall all ready.
They are going very well, but like I said, I just wanna push them a little to get the fruit started.
One guy said to walk around and shake the flowers because you want to get the pollen going right away so I’m gonna try that on one of them
🤘
what is a fabric grow bag?? will plants be okay in them?
Fabric grow bags (often referred to as Smart Pots after a specific brand) are a type of plant container made from nonwoven fabric. They're cheap and very effective so lots of us veggie gardeners love them =)
@@NextdoorHomestead yeah thank you!! right after watching the video i immediately ordered them
@@blue30827 I'm about to get some of ours out of the garage for the year. Hope yours work out nicely!
I’m in Texas weather and my eggplant didn’t survive? When would you suggest I start over???
Sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, not many climates in the US can sustain an eggplant planted at this point in the season (although I'm not familiar with your location). If you can find a mature seedling from a nursery of a fast-producting variety like Ichiban or Millionaire, you might get a harvest. Otherwise, it's waiting for next Spring.
Good luck!
Oops I planted black beauty and Japanese egg plants in the north San Francisco Bay area the zip is 94806 and the plants are growing really slow. It's been defiantly colder than 55 degrees. I also planted yellow and red bell peppers and found out later our area is to cold for those too! 😮😅😢
We had a random May cold snap too =(
Hopefully both of our gardens recover into Summer!
i put two eggplants out mid may. i have not been pruning and i have a bunch of fruit on both. plant 🎉hem in tires they absorb heat
Nice! Hope you're enjoying the eggplants - we've been loving them this year =)
Off topic question. Could you technically graft a tomato onto an eggplant? It seems like a lot of work but I've had two eggplants that have lived through 3 floods, months of total neglect with no rain, the works. Cut it back and fertilized and then and they just keep coming back and producing again. Best "weed" ever! Can't keep a cactus alive but I can grow these.
Yes! And people do! But it's not super common and mostly done for specific disease resistances. Both tomatoes and eggplants have specific rootstock lines (more tomato options) that will likely confer more benefits in a typical use case.
Sounds like a fun experiment to me =)
😊
Help! I transplanted a Japanese Eggplant and it's getting too big for its container. Can I transplant it or cut the bottom out out of the container and add a deeper container below it?
What size container is it in? Definitely possible to transplant but a mature plant isn't going to love that experience.
@NextdoorHomestead It's 12 inches across the top, square, 9 inches across the bottom, and 8 8nches soul depth (10" deep container) Thank you for responding responding I have large pots now. Just found your channel, subbed and messaged 8n desperation.
At that size pot, I'd just leave it in there and keep it well fed and watered personally. You can transplant it but be gentle and expect it to wilt for a little while.
@NextdoorHomestead I repotted this seeding 3-4 weeks ago, and it's grown 14 inches. I cut 5he bottom of the pot off, saw it is full of roots and set the bottomless pot in a slightly larger, soil filled pot.Meanwhile, I'll start some seeds, just in case. I have a long, hot growing season. Thank you very much for your ideas!
Can you grow more aubergines from those suckers like tomatoes
Yep!
I really want to love eggplants, but between contact dermatitis from the little hairs and the stinging burn I get in the back of my throat and oesophagus when I eat them makes it really challenging to appreciate them. I'm trying to grow different varieties in different ways in the hopes they gel with me, but I'm starting to think just like with people, no matter what you do you sometimes will just never like something, even if you genuinely try to.
If they're overripe and bitter soak the slice eggplant in salty water before cooking.
Thank you for the tip!
60 degrees at night? Are you living in a fridge? 😂😂😂 Hello from the tropics. :)
!!! You know how badly I'm wishing for 60 degree nights at this point? I'm ready for Spring!
Yeah, eggplants like it better when it is 80. When it is 60 degrees eggplant does not want to flower or even grow.
I'm not used to 60 degree nights either, my toes can't stay warm.
Bitter is better 😉
Haha well that I am the supreme eggplant grower!
If you let the seeds mature and you don't salt the eggplant, it is more bitter. If you like bitter, grow a wild bitter melon
I have young plants ~ 8-10 inches tall and I’m noticing some leaves are slightly yellowing … is this from over watering ? @nextdoorhomestead
Heya Danya! Can you share some more info about your plant's conditions? Here's some helpful data to share:
* Are they in containers or in the ground?
* Is it the new leaves or the old leaves yellowing?
* Is the plant putting on size and new growth or is it stunted?
* How are you feeding it?
* How often and how much do you water?
Cheers!
@@NextdoorHomestead yes
They are in containers,
I per 18 inch container
Bottom leaves turned yellow
I have used Neptune fertilizer (2x)
Every other week
And water everyday
@@danyaeades577 Heya Danya, if the plants have been in the ground for a while and *only* the older bottom leaves are yellowing / drying out - those may simply be old leaves that are ready to die off.
Otherwise, if you think it's not natural leaf lifecycle, I would try reducing the watering a bit. That's plenty of fertilizer so not likely the culprit.
Bottom water eggplants early when still in pots(obviously) and still indoors..... dont put out to early (55°f for night-time lows). Use fabric pots if you suck at monitoring water uptake