What is the best type of soil to grow eggplant seeds in?
The best soil type to grow eggplants in is a highly compacted soil that’s full of nutrients and has a great drainage rate. You can’t use regular garden soil because it’s too nutrient-diluted, and you don’t want your seeds sitting in water. Compacted garden soil has lots of minerals and nutrients in it, but it’s also very dense and heavy. Once you plant any crops in it, it’s difficult to take care of because you have to lift the soil or use a lot of extra tools.
Luckily, there are lots of cultivars that can grow well in clay soils like the Chinese ivy eggplant (S. lycopersicum ‘Lankapilam’). This eggplant is the runner-up for the most productive eggplant. It grows strong, thick vines that produce large, round, orange fruits. The other two eggplants can also grow well in clay soils, so you don’t have to worry about which cultivar you buy.
When to plant eggplant seeds
Start seeds indoors 45 to 60 days before your last frost date in the spring. You can also start seeds indoors any time of year, but spring is generally the best time to grow eggplant seeds.
If you live in a climate that gets warm, sunny summers and mild winters, you can plant eggplant seeds anytime from the beginning of spring to late summer. However, the best time to plant eggplant seeds is in mid-spring, when the soil temperatures are warm enough for good germination.
If you live in a cool climate or your summers are cooler than average, you can plant seeds any time between late summer and early fall. Eggplant seeds will thrive in cooler temperatures, but they won’t produce sturdy, productive plants.
In areas with short growing seasons, you can plant eggplant seeds in late summer or fall and keep them inside for the winter. This is generally not recommended for other areas, but it works great in short growing seasons.
How to germinate eggplant seeds
Many seeds need a warm period to germinate, so you can place them outside in a paper bag or pot and let them sit outside in the warm, light area outside for a few days before bringing them inside.
If you’re planting in spring or early summer, set the pots outside where they will get a little bit of direct sunlight and warm air. If you’re planting in fall or winter, put them outside in a sheltered spot that’s out of the wind and has consistent sunlight. You can also put pots outside on a sunny windowsill or under a grow light.
Your paper bag seeds will start growing in about 5 to 7 days, and the seedlings will be ready to transplant inside in about 3 weeks. If you want faster germination, you can also soak your seeds in warm water for a couple of hours.
How to grow eggplant from seedlings
When you have healthy seedlings, you have a good chance of getting a successful harvest from them. If you have any problems with your seedlings, such as a late frost, or a pest problem, you can still get good harvests from the eggplant seedlings you have.
To save the seeds from your seedlings, don’t harvest them just yet. Also, don’t start picking the seeds off the plants because that’s considered harvesting the plant. Instead, leave the plants in the garden and harvest the seedlings in 3 to 4 weeks.
Transplant the eggplant seedlings outside when they get 3 to 4 inches tall and have one or two healthy leaves. Space the seedlings about 4 feet apart in full sun. Water them with a water-soluble fertilizer solution every other day.
Make sure to place the eggplant pots in the shade during the day and bring them in the shade at night. This will help the eggplant avoid getting too much sun and develop diseases and become too indeterminate.
Protect the eggplants from pests by covering the pots with a half-inch layer of organic mulch like shredded leaves, wood chips, leaves, or sod.
Properly-grown, healthy eggplant plants will produce fruit with smooth, glossy skin. Small, black, indeterminate tomatoes are a common problem in gardens; they often have misshapen, mottled, or spotted skin and are often too indeterminate to harvest.
Conclusion
Growing your own vegetables is a great way to ensure you have fresh vegetables at all times, and it can be done easily by growing your own seeds. Eggplant seeds are no exception and are one of the most productive and easy vegetables to grow.
Eggplant seeds are a bit more challenging to germinate and grow than many other vegetables, but with a little preparation, you can easily get beautiful harvests from your own home garden.