DIY Network

Easy Eggplant How-To Easy Eggplant How-To From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-112

Though many people have never grown eggplant in their garden, there's really no special secret to getting great results with this versatile, delicious vegetable. Just follow these simple guidelines....

advertisement

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

• Eggplants, even more than peppers, need warm and sunny conditions. Even even the lightest frost damages them, so you'll need the sunniest spot in your garden for this plant.

• Eggplant is native to China and India, but they've been grown for hundreds of years in Europe (figure A). They produce lots of fruit per plant. Their subtle flavor makes them a good companion with spicier tastes like tomato sauce and curry. They come in a variety of sizes and colors like green, but most are white, dark-purple or some combination of the two. The skin of an eggplant is shiny and smooth.

• Eggplant likes lots of food so make sure the ground is fertile (figure B). They need large amounts of nutrients across the whole growing season so add a slow-release fertilizer. The Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium balance in10-10-10 gives a balanced dose of these 3 critical nutrients. Eggplants need a high level of all three to thrive.

• One big difference in the way peppers and eggplants grow is that eggplants do better when they're staked (figure C). Because the fruit on an eggplant is larger and heavier, a plant full of eggplants can bend or break off. To protect against this, brace each of your new plants with a strong stake. It's best to put the stake in when you plant so that you don't damage growing roots later on.

• For eggplants use 6-foot long 1x2 boards to create the stakes. Pound them into the ground with a large hammer until each stake is at least 18-24 inches deep, leaving about 4 feet above ground. Place the stakes 24 inches apart to allow room for the plants to grow.

• Plant the eggplant using the same technique used for the peppers, making sure the top of the soil from the pot is level with the garden bed. Eggplants can get large and bushy and produces 6 to 12 dark-purple fruits per plant. The fruit can get very large if left on the vine or it can be harvested when young and more tender. When eggplants stay on the vine they develop a spongy interior and a bitter taste.

• Keep an eye on the eggplants. Once they start putting on fruit they'll need to be retied every week. One heavy fruit or a lot of fruit on one side can cause eggplants to bend over. If this happens, the capillaries that carry food and water to the leaves and eggplants can get cut off. Keep an eye on your plants because once the fruit begins to grow things will happen pretty quickly.