Four classic eggplant varieties to grow are: Black Beauty: grows glossy black, bell-shaped fruit 4 to 6 inches (10-15cm) long. Six plants will provide you with an excellent harvest. Raised Beds Eggplant loves the heat and having warm roots, so it is well suited for growing in spacious containers in quality potting soil as long as they are watered regularly. by Daniel J. Leonard | Oct 1, 2020 | Container Gardening, Edible Landscape, Eggplant, Fall Gardening, General Gardening, Harvesting, Pests, Vegetable Gardening. Plants will continue to produce fruits the entire season. Thin seedlings so they are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm.) Raise the lights as the plants grow taller. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offer a number of eggplant varieties to try growing yourself. 0. When planting eggplants remember to allow for good circulation and leave sufficient room for staking as plant matures. Do not plant eggplant transplants into the garden until after the last threat of frost. Eggplant prefers warm weather so don’t plant it before temperatures have warmed in the spring. Eggplant is more cold sensitive than tomatoes and should not be planted outdoors until the nighttime temperature is consistently at or above 50°F.Germination is generally seven to ten days in temperatures between 60°F – 95°F. Tall plants may need staking or a tomato cage. These stately plants grow well and look beautiful in containers, ornamental borders, raised beds, and traditional in-ground gardens. Growing Eggplant in Patio Pots. Growing your own eggplant can provide you with delicious fruit throughout the summer and fall. We heartily agree -- Patio Baby is a true ornamental edible! Be sure to plant where the flowers won’t shade your growing eggplants. Consuming eggplants has many health benefits, including a reduction in the risk of … Many people have taken to growing their own food to control their food budget or to ensure there are no pesticides, insecticides or any other type of chemicals used in commercial farming. Try varieties like Little Finger or Fairy Tale. Patio Baby is a very early and highly productive eggplant with a compact habit, making it a great choice for containers or in the garden. With Patio Baby, it’s so easy! Cracking the Japanese Eggplant Growing Code. While starting eggplants takes a bit of effort, maintaining them in the ground is actually pretty easy. — that you pick when it’s just a few inches in diameter, tender and succulent. Try to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Eggplants can either be started indoors from seed (8-10 weeks before the last frost) or purchased as transplants from a garden store. Just as petite cherry tomatoes are easier to grow compared to varieties with huge fruits, eggplant varieties that produce modest-size fruits are the most trustworthy types for gardens. Plant two seeds per pot and cover with 1/8 inch of soil. Planting Eggplant ilmoro100/getty Most container friendly or compact eggplants don’t need staking. ‘Patio Baby’ Eggplant also lives up to its reputation of being exceedingly easy and quick to grow.  I purchased a packet of ‘Patio Baby’ seed from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in June and planted three in a 20” diameter decorative pot next to my raised bed garden during the first week of July, behind summer squash that had recently expired in the heat of late June.  After sprouting, the plants grew strongly and, true to form for most Eggplant varieties, were bothered by no serious pest or disease issues other than the normal stinkbugs and occasional caterpillar that plague summer gardens in Florida.  Around 8 weeks from sowing seed in the soil, cute, egg-shaped fruit were ready for harvest!  Over the next three or four weeks, my single plant produced around 50 of the cute little fruit.  More than enough for me and plenty to share, the goal of my gardening endeavors. Agriculture, Horticulture & Natural Resources Agent. As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Thornless leaves and calyxes allow for painless harvesting. Water and keep them in a warm and bright place in your home. Firm down well. Welcome to your go-to guide for growing eggplant in containers.For some, eggplant (also known as aubergine) may seem bland or possibly even mushy, but it’s a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed in many different dishes and cuisines.Some of the most popular Italian recipes use eggplant as the main ingredient, but it’s also enjoyed in Indian, Japanese, Chinese, and Middle Eastern dishes. If you are short on garden space or have a patio garden, consider adding eggplant to your rotation! 0. The first observation when seeing a mature ‘Patio Baby’ is how small the plant is, leaves, flowers, fruit, everything.  Compared to a standard ‘Black Beauty’ variety, ‘Patio Baby’ plants measure maybe a third as tall and wide.  Where a “normal” eggplant fruit might be slightly larger than a softball and often have spines on their calyxes (the green part that connects the purple fruit to the stems), ‘Patio Baby’ fruit are roughly the size of a large chicken egg and totally spineless!  I find this smaller plant and fruit size to have several perks.  Vegetable plants that grow 2’ tall and wide are just about perfect for raised bed gardening.  If you don’t require a large quantity of eggplant, you won’t have to sacrifice an entire bed’s space to ‘Patio Baby’ like you would with the standard varieties. Eggplant plants need an area where there is plenty of full sunlight and soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.5. Caring for Eggplant in Containers. I find that the taste of these is also better than the larger eggplant varieties - probably because it's all packed into 3-4" sized pods! Photo courtesy of Daniel Leonard. How To Grow Eggplant From Seed. Space transplants in the vegetable garden 18 inches (46 cm.) The fruit should stop growing larger and, in many cases, it will be around the size of a large orange. Growing eggplants in your backyard vegetable garden can be rewarding when the time for harvest comes. Eggplant transplants can go out in the garden once temperatures stay reliably above 50 degrees F. (10 Celsius). CULTURE: Eggplants require fertile, well-drained soil with a pH range of 6.2-6.8. Seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 70 to 90°F. But in our warm Southern soils, the eggplant season typically spans from the end of the spring season up until the first winter frosts in early November. Long, slender Asian varieties like ‘Ping Tung Long’ never disappoint, or you might like the shorter fruits of ‘Millionaire’, ‘Bonica’, or another oval-shaped eggplant. Flea beetles love eggplant leaves, but plants yield even when leaves are riddled with beetle holes. ‘Patio Baby’ fruit ready for harvest in September 2020. Plants drop flowers when daytime temps soar above 90º F, nights are below 50º F, or drought stresses plants. Its deep purple, egg-shaped fruits should be harvested at 2-3 inch long baby size and are delicious roasted or in dips and salads. You can grow eggplant in patio pots. Lightly press down soil and water from the top. You can take a clay pot or plastic gardening pots or trays for planting the seeds. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Solanum melongena, except where otherwise noted (S. gilo). Related: vegetables that g r ow well in pots, growing blueberries in containers, tips for growing strawberries in pots and growing lettuce in containers. This natural dwarf plant sets fruit all summer long — an astonishing 25 to 50 eggplants per plant! Growing eggplants in containers is not complicated, and if you’re a fan of grilling and oven broiling, you should grow this delicious and PRODUCTIVE vegetable.. Common Names: Solanum melongena, Aubergine, Brinjal, Baingan, Vankaya, Berengena, Berinjela Eggplant is a perennial tropical vegetable plant native to South and East Asia (namely, China and India) and a member of the tomato family. Choose a variety of eggplant that produces small fruits, which also produce smaller plants. Eggplant needs heat. Also, ‘Patio Baby’ fruit won’t bend or break branches and are held strongly on the plants, with no need for staking, another bonus when space is at a premium.  Finally, I find it much easier to harvest, handle and prepare the small, spineless ‘Patio Baby’ fruit in the kitchen.  Think of them as a “personal pan” eggplant.  As I’m the only one in my house who eats much eggplant, I waste a lot less fruit cooking these little guys! In the garden, space plants 2 feet apart. Growing eggplant is a must if you’re a fan of outdoor grilling! Eggplant seeds germinate painfully slowly or not at all if the soil is too cool. Containers. Eggplant Varieties to Grow. Easter Egg: small pastel yellow or orange fruits the size of an egg. They can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. When starting eggplant seeds indoors, a heat mat is a must to warm the soil to encourage germination. Ichiban: grow slim, deep purple fruits 6 inches (15cm) plus long. And it looks great in a large patio pot!" Eggplant is a warm-weather crop, so wait until after danger of frost before transplanting seedlings into the sunny garden or container. Transplant eggplant seedlings into the garden when the soil is at least 70℉ (the best way to check your soil temperature is with a soil thermometer), with daytime temperatures at or above 70℉ and nighttime temperatures above 50℉.. Culture • Eggplants are heat-loving plants that require a long growing season • Plants grow best in fertile, well-drained soil; raised beds and plastic mulch (black or silver) provide extra warmth in the spring • Use row cover until first blooms appear • Optimum growth occurs with day temp. Eggplants growing in a container need different care than plants growing in the ground. 1. A Landscape Combo for Native Fall Color:Muhly Grass & Darrow’s Blueberry, Biological Control of Air Potato by a Beneficial Beetle, Video Feature: Answers to Common Questions about Raised Bed Gardens. Simply prune them back in early winter and keep them protected during any particularly cold spells. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. Little Fingers: small, dark purple fruits, 3 to 4 inches (7-10cm) long. Sow seed in flats indoors during early spring, or 6-8 weeks prior to planting outdoors. They are sensitive to frost, so if in cooler region grow the seedlings inside until they are more mature and the soil has warmed. apart. I purchased a packet of ‘Patio Baby’ seed from Johnny’s Selected Seeds in June and planted three in a 20” diameter decorative pot next to my raised bed garden during the first week of July, behind summer squash that had recently expired in the heat of late June. of 80-90°F and night temp. Sow one seed per seedling pot about ¼” deep. ‘Patio Baby’ produces lots of fruit in a small package! 0 Shares 0. These are slow growers so start them 3 to 4 weeks before your tomatoes and peppers. To plant the eggplant, fill the container with potting mix and plant in a 6 to 8-inch hole. from each other and in rows that are 36 inches (91 cm.) Every two seeds should be planted in one pot. Begin seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before planning to set out. To start eggplant seedlings, you’ll want to plant the seeds between 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. Photo courtesy of Daniel Leonard. Spinach – plant it so that eggplant foliage provides shade in the hot summer months. Deep purple, egg-shaped fruit should be harvested at baby size-2 to 3 inches, and are delicious roasted or in dips and salads. All you need to do is stake your plants for support, maintain a few healthy fruits, and pinch off leaves showing signs of infection or flowers 2 to 4 weeks before the first frost. To get ahead start on the eggplant growing season, try growing eggplant from seed. Eggplants growing in cold soil or exposed to chilly weather will sulk and potentially suffer from insect and disease problems. Using a Broadfork for Low-Till Gardening. Growing only 16-20 inches tall, Patio Baby is also a great choice for container growing. Start seeds indoors in flats or peat pots 8–9 weeks prior to the last spring frost date. ‘Patio Baby’ Eggplant also lives up to its reputation of being exceedingly easy and quick to grow. of 70+°F Direct Sowing • Not recommended Transplanting • Sow indoors 8-10 weeks prior to … Calhoun County Extension Director. 0. apart. Start seeds in 4-inch pots filled with rich, organic soil. If eggplant fruits were human, small, slender Japanese eggplants would be the 90-pound weaklings among a beachful of bodybuilders. Eggplant is a solanaceous crop, related to tomatoes, peppers and potatoes, that grow during summer. Pinch out the growing tips for a bushier plant and limit fruits to 5 or 6 per plant for better a size and quality of fruit. In the warm Queensland climate, eggplants can be over-wintered. ‘Patio Baby’ mature fruit. This makes growing eggplant an ideal choice for your backyard garden or on your patio. Patio Container Gardening : Growing Eggplant. Compact … Disclosure. Sunflowers will help you control cutworm infestations. Eggplants do not like being transplanted, so for best results sew directly into soil (widely spaced) or in individual cell-pack punnets. Cover the pots lightly with plastic wrap. There are countless varieties of eggplant you might consider growing. Grow the delicate, thin-skinned heat lovers for their sweet flavor, dainty lavender flowers and abundant fruit. Growing eggplants prefer soil with a pH between 5.5 to 6.5. The two most common “standard” eggplant varieties are Black Beauty and Black Magic.. Black Beauty produces four to six large fruits at a time, while Black Magic, Early Bird, Purple Rain, and … Eggplant Varieties. In this episode we show you how to grow eggplants, purple eggplants easily in your home garden. The soil should be well-drained and fertile. By Dr_E Jun 17, 2010. In cold regions, planting in black pots can help warm soil and provide necessary heat to jump-start growth. 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Try growing small-fruited eggplant varieties. You will enjoy them in soups and stews, plus they are also highly nutritious. For now, feel free to continue reading. Water eggplant regularly to encourage strong, healthy growth and ensure the fruit does not become bitter. Standard house key used as a size reference. 1) Growing eggplant from seeds in a pot or container can be very easy. Alternatively, buy 6- to 8-week-old nursery transplants just before planting. In my ongoing search for low-maintenance vegetable varieties that perform well in small spaces, like my raised bed garden, I decided to try a newish Eggplant variety called ‘Patio Baby’ this summer.  Developed by PanAmerican Seed and winner of the 2014 All-American Selections Vegetable- edible category, I was drawn to ‘Patio Baby’ due to the advertising claims made that it was a true miniature variety, perfect for growing in containers, only reaching 20” or so in height and producing both “early” and abundant fruit.  I’ve been very pleased with the performance of this extremely unique variety so far in my informal backyard trial and definitely think it deserves consideration in your garden too! Photo courtesy of Daniel Leoanrd. The length of time this takes varies depending on the variety you chose, but your eggplant will usually be ready for harvest within two or three months after you initially planted your seeds. If you’ve run out of space in your raised bed garden, just want a single plant for your back porch or simply want to try a novelty vegetable variety, my experience this summer deems ‘Patio Baby’ Eggplant is an excellent option!  For an eggplant that is space-efficient, very early and heavy producing, and comes in a more easily harvestable, kitchen-friendly package, try ‘Patio Baby’.  For more information about raised bed gardening, vegetable varieties or any other horticultural topic, contact your local UF/IFAS County Extension Office.  Happy Gardening! Eggplants in pretty tubs on the patio, or marching up the front steps in terracotta pots? Quick update on some nice Patio Baby Eggplants! 0. Sow 4 seeds/in., ¼" deep, and maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F (27-32°C) until emergence and 70°F (21°C) thereafter. Keep the soil moist at 75 degrees F. Seedlings emerge in 10-21 days. Growing eggplants in your garden is easy. 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