:: Eggplant ::
Aubergine
Solanum melongena

“Imperial Black Beauty” “Ichiban”  “Japanese Pickling”

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:: 08.11.08 ::

New Experiment

Update: These never made it. They died after growing about 4 inches tall. At least they germinated. I think it was just too cold for them…they were started too late. I will do better next year.

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I have been starting other seeds for a Fall garden and had these extra seeds from a couple years ago sitting around in a box. They were a gift from Renee since she was using some of my photo’s on her site a while back. I’m not sure if these will germinate; I probably waited too long to plant them, I hope they do though because they look cool!

Baby Eggplant “Little Prince” (?)

eed Depth	Seed Row/Spacing	Days To Germination	Days To Harvest
1/4″	2ft	10-21	65

This may be the variety now being sold as “Little Prince”.
These are great for containers and seem to be profuse bloomers. the fruits are smaller than normal with dark purple skin. (Renee’sGarden-MailOrder/Gift.

The eggplants I put in this spring are still alive in the garden; the scorching heat hasn’t killed them yet and I have been trying to keep them watered. Three of the plants never produced any fruit (I only got the one seen below) So I am hoping that when it cools off they will flower and I will have some vegetables from them in the Fall.

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:: 06.13.08 ::

Planting Favorites

The plants I planted last year died for some reason. I can’t remember why there was a problem. Anyway I am trying again this year and so far things are going “ok”.  The eggplants I put in the ground were seedlings when we had a huge hail storm and all the vegetable plants got knocked around and shredded. The eggplants lost some leaves and I expected them to die but they eventually came back, slowly. They still aren’t very large, but a couple of them seem to be trying to put out blooms.

I only have one plant that is really the size it should be and as you can see above, I got one eggplant from it so far. I think there is one other bloom that was pollinated and will hopefully make another fruit. The summer temperatures are starting to get hot now, above 95F, so I don’t expect the smaller plants to bloom. My best bet is to try to keep them alive until it gets cooler in September and then they will have a better chance of blooming, pollinating and making fruit.

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:: 04.25.07 ::

More Eggplant

Seedlings went into the ground today where the broccoli once grew. I put out two “Black Beauty” and two “Ichiban”. I didn’t get to plant any eggplant last year so I am really excited to be growing it again! Updates later as the plants start to bloom and fruit.

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:: 09.08.05 ::

Summer Bounty

The eggplant did great and I actually got to eat eggplant from the garden this year!  These are two that were left on the vine as the summer heat reached it’s peak and I ran off to New York with Brian for my birthday. The plants were abandoned and left to dry up. When I got back there were these beautiful red and yellow dried fruits still clinging to the vines.

I loved growing eggplant and will try it again in the future.

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:: 06.27.05 ::

Beautiful Blooms

Hmmm….getting a little worried now. The plants keep blooming, but the blooms are falling off at the stems. They don’t seem to want to set fruit. I have lost five blooms already. I read that if the temperature gets too hot that it is more difficult for the plants to be pollinated. I am going to be really upset if I don’t get at least one eggplant!  Stay tuned…

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:: 06.21.05 ::

Bugs on Big Leafs

The Eggplants seem to be doing ok…They are just now starting to flower. the flowers are so pretty…yellow centers and white petals with a lavender tint.

I have been a little worried about the bugs, since there seem to be a few round holes in some of the leaves. I have been spraying it with a mixture of Neem oil and water to keep the insects from devouring them. The plants have big curly leaves. I have six plants total, three of each kind listed below.

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:: 05.18.05 ::

Varieties

Imperial Black Beauty (22-26 in. Tender Annual) *Nursery Plant
FEATURES: This early and prolific variety produces glossy, black-green fruit with firm white flesh. Nice, straight, cylindrical fruits. Side ridges help fruit pack well. (50-55 days) (avg. 3,700 seeds/lb.)
Tag: Broad deep fruit tastes great in a variety of dishes, including breaded and fried. Eggplants are heat loving and damaged by cold. Harvest while skin is still soft and shiny. (Days to mature: 80 Fruit Size:8″)

Japanese Pickling Eggplant (22-26 in. Tender Annual) *Brian’s seedlings
FEATURES: This attractive, early-maturing variety has extremely long, slender, slightly curved purple fruit. Sweet and mild flavored. Sow indoors 8 weeks before transplanting outside. Transplant into rows 18-30 inches apart when danger of frost has passed. Watering tips. During germination, keep entire seedbed evenly moist. Keep well-watered through maturity, allowing soil surface to dry between watering. Harvesting tips. Harvest fruit at their peak of size and color.