Eggplants like it hot! Daytime temperatures need to be 80° to 90°F and night time temperatures should not go below 60° to 65°F or their grow is very slow to stalled. Wait for warmer temperatures; you may have to replant, depending on the variety.
What temperature do eggplants like?
The optimum daytime growing temperature ranges between 70°F and 85°F. When temperatures rise above 95°F, eggplant ceases to set fruit and may drop flowers or abort immature fruit. Fruit set is also reduced when temperatures fall below 60°F.
Where is the best place to grow eggplants?
Plant the eggplant seedlings in a sunny spot — a place that gets between six and eight hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be well draining and amended with plenty of compost. Eggplant grows best in soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0, which is a range of slightly acidic to precisely neutral.
What temperature is bad for eggplant?
Eggplant temperature requirements are high. They need temperatures from 20°C to 30°C (70°F – 85°F) and plenty of sunlight in order to thrive. Frost or temperature above 35°C (95°F) may cause a delay in flowering and serious damage to tissues and flowers.
What time of year is best for eggplant?
SEASON: Although available year-round, eggplant is at its peak from July to October. CHOOSING: When selecting, look for eggplants with firm, glossy skin.
Does eggplant grow well in hot weather?
Eggplant and peppers will tolerate our summer heat, although their production is reduced by mid-summer. However, they can easily survive the heat and start a new flush of flowers in the fall and produce well until the frost.
How often do you water eggplant?
Water eggplant deeply and infrequently, applying 1-2 inches per week. Use drip irrigation if possible. Mulching around the plant will conserve soil moisture and reduce weed growth. Irrigate so that moisture goes deeply into the soil.
What is the secret for growing eggplant?
Like fellow members of the nightshade plant family, eggplant needs full sun to develop and produce. One of the biggest secrets of all for growing eggplant with success is to give it plenty of light. Eggplant is a beautiful plant in the garden, with large foliage and colorful fruit that suspends from above.
How long do eggplants take to grow?
Eggplants do not mature until around the 100-day mark, but you should not wait that long to harvest because young eggplants have the best taste. Prepare to harvest eggplants around 70 to 80 days after transplanting. If your eggplant is about six to nine inches and its skin is glossy, you can begin harvesting.
Is eggplant difficult to grow?
Eggplants demand rich soil, even consistent water, warm temperatures, bonus side-dressings of nutrients, and little or no wind. They can be difficult to grow without these ingredients.
Do eggplants like rain?
Avoid overhead watering to prevent disease, but consider using mulch to keep soil moist, warm, and to keep weeds down. Generally, eggplants should get an inch (2.5 cm.) of rain or watering per week.
How long will an eggplant plant live?
How long do eggplant plants live? Eggplant plants can live up to three years in very warm climates, like zones 10-12. But in most regions they’re grown as annuals, and only live for one season.
Do eggplants require full sun?
Plant eggplant in a location that gets full sun—at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day—for the best results. Eggplant grows best in a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil that is fairly high in organic matter.
What is the best fertilizer for eggplant?
Fertilize weekly with a soluble fertilizer. Until the plants start to flower use a balanced fertilizer with a 1-1-1 ratio such as 20-20-20 or 20-30-20. Once flowering starts switch to a high potassium blend such as 9-15-30 or any fertilizer with a 1-1.5-3 or 4 ratio.
Does eggplant need sun?
S. melongena thrives in full sun, with a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day, and fertile, well draining soil with a pH between 5.5-7.2. As members of the Solanaceae family, along with peppers and tomatoes, it’s no surprise that eggplants prefer hot weather.
Should eggplants touch the ground?
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.
Do eggplants like humidity?
While eggplants are a warm season plant, the humidity and heat are not always their friend. In very wet and humid weather, the pollen from the male flower gets sticky and can’t fall into the female flower for pollination.
Are eggplant drought tolerant?
In spite of eggplant is well-known drought tolerant vegetable crop, but its quality and yield suffers from severe drought stress. Mulching as an effective method uses to conserve soil moisture, improve plant growth, increase agricultural production, and pest control (AL-Bayati and Hamdoon, 2019).
Can you overwater eggplants?
Eggplants suffering from over-watering and drought eventually die. Over-watered eggplant roots rot, which prevents plants from taking up water and causes wilting. Under-watered plants also wilt, grow poorly and develop pithy fruits.
When should I fertilize my eggplant?
Fertilizing Container-Grown Eggplant
A soluble 15-30-15 or 20-20-20 fertilizer applied once every one or two weeks will help to provide nutrients for good fruit production. Alternately, apply 1 cup of compost or diluted fish emulsion to each plant every two weeks.
How tall do eggplants grow?
Whether you plant them in the vegetable garden or perennial garden, give eggplants plenty of space to mature. Plants can grow 2 to 4 feet tall and wide, which means they need to be staked.