As eggplants are tropical plants, they prefer warmer weather and aren’t climatized to the harsh weather that is guaranteed in parts of the world that experience winter. If you live in an area that has frosts, harsh winds, and strong rain during winter, you need to protect your eggplants or they won’t survive.
Is eggplant a winter vegetable?
Eggplants—also known as aubergines or brinjals—are warm-weather vegetables that are harvested in mid- to late summer. Eggplants taste best when harvested young.
What is the lowest temperature eggplants can tolerate?
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.
Is eggplant a summer or winter?
Common warm-season vegetables: beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, zucchini and summer squash, pumpkin and winter squash, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon.
Do eggplants come back every year?
Eggplant plants can come back every year but they usually wont. Eggplants rarely survive long past the harvest months. A perennial plant eggplant is a rarity outside of tropical climates. Eggplants can come back every year in ideal, tropical conditions.
Can eggplant survive frost?
In general, a frost (31-33 degrees F.) will kill beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, pepper, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon.
What do you do with eggplant in the winter?
Remember To Water
Even though eggplants slow down during the winter and do not grow as much, just like all plants, they still require water. Remember to water regularly during the winter. Check the soil to see if it is damp or dry first, then water accordingly.
Do eggplants grow back after winter?
You sure can!
It’s called overwintering. And, if your climate is warm enough (or you can keep the plant warm enough) you can keep your same eggplant plant alive for years to come.
How long does it take to grow eggplant?
around 70 to 80 days
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.
How long does eggplant plant last?
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.
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 do eggplants grow in cold climates?
To grow eggplant in your area, start by growing cultivars that tolerate cool temperatures, such as ‘Orient Express’ or ‘Elondo’. Then raise the bed’s soil temperature by setting the plants in black plastic mulch. Protect the plants from cold by covering them with a floating row fabric.
What are winter vegetables?
These are known as winter vegetables, due to their ability to withstand cold, harsh weather.
The 10 Healthiest Winter Vegetables
- Kale.
- Brussels Sprouts.
- Carrots.
- Swiss Chard.
- Parsnips.
- Collard Greens.
- Rutabagas.
- Red Cabbage.
How much water does an eggplant need?
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 life cycle of eggplant?
Adult Plants – It takes eggplant 70 to 120 days to reach maturity, depending on the variety. When mature, they have a main stem and several stems that branch out. The stems grow large, leathery leaves that are oval shaped. Some varieties of eggplant leaves can be spiny or hairy.
Do I need to prune eggplants?
ANSWER: Eggplants, like fellow nightshade family member tomatoes benefit from staking and pruning. In fact, eggplant actually produces more fruit when pruned. Pruning eggplant can also improve the fruit quality of the plant, and decrease the plant’s susceptibility to disease.
How do I get my eggplant to produce more fruit?
If you have poor fruit set, hand-pollinate the flowers to help increase production. Use an electric toothbrush to vibrate to flower stems (not the flowers themselves) for a few seconds each to help the pollen move within the flowers. 9. The more frequently the fruits are harvested, the greater the fruit set.
How many eggplants do you get from one plant?
Eggplants typically grow 18 to 36 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. Each plant bears between two to 12 fruits, although this number varies based on the variety and growing conditions.
Where does eggplant grow best?
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 vegetables will not survive a frost?
Vegetables that will not survive a frost:
- Basil.
- Beans.
- Corn.
- Cucumbers.
- Edamame.
- Eggplant.