Eggplants come in an assortment of sizes and colors, but no matter what they look like, they are delicious! I’ve sliced them thin and used them in place of lasagna noodles, mashed them up with garlic and butter as a side dish, and I’ve grilled thick circles of eggplant to eat like a burger. Eggplant is one crop I cannot do without in my garden! If you’re thinking about trying your hand at raising some, check out these tips for planting, care of, and harvesting eggplants, as well as some tidbits on a few pests you will need to lookout for.
How To Plant Eggplant
If you don’t purchase plants from a local nursery, start the seeds indoors at least 2 months before the soil begins to warm up. They don’t do well in the cold, since they are more of a tropical plant. Place your seedlings about 2 feet apart. Pinch off the very top of the plant to make it grow a bit bushier.
Learn more: 8 DIY Seed Starting Tips
How To Care For Eggplant Plants
Any plants that grow to be more than 2 feet tall will need to be staked. Giving them support will prevent them from falling over as they mature, especially once the eggplants begin to form. Plants will need plenty of water and even a bit of fertilizer (Amazon) every couple of weeks will help. They seem to really like tomato food!
Learn more: How To Start A Veggie Garden
How To Harvest Eggplant
Between 16 to 24 weeks after planting, your eggplants should be ready for harvest. Using a sharp knife (Amazon) or pair of scissors (Amazon), cut the fruit with about an inch of the stem being left on. Don’t let them get too big or else they will be very bitter. Yuck!
Eggplants can be stored in a cool dark place for up to 2 weeks. If you have freezer space, you can also slice eggplant up and freeze it for 9 months in a regular, self-defrosting freezer or 14 months in a deep freeze.
Pests That Attack Eggplant Plants
A few of the most common pests attacking eggplant leaves are; aphids, spider mites, and tomato hornworms. Due to the heavy watering they need, eggplant crops are also susceptible to powdery and downy mildew.
Eggplant Recipes
Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini – Real Simple
This is similar to the way I make my “noodle-less” lasagna. It is delicious!! This is a wonderful alternative to regular lasagna for those on a gluten-free or low-carb diet.
Stuffed Eggplant Recipe video – The Old Farmer’s Almanac
In case you are more of a visual person, here’s an excellent video on how to make stuffed eggplant. Sometimes it’s easier to watch someone else walk you through a process than to try and read about it!
Want to learn what herbs you can grow along with your eggplant – or which ones would taste good in an eggplant dish? We highly recommend [sc:HerbalAcad ] for lots of good information.
Deciding on which type of eggplant to grow is the toughest decision to make. If you really like to eat a lot of eggplants, then go for smaller plants, since they tend to produce a lot more. I like the larger eggplants for making “lasagna” dishes and the smaller ones for grilling with chunks of veggies on kabob sticks.
How do you like to eat your eggplant?
I love eggplant but haven’t grown it much. This is a great article to have on hand! Thanks so much for sharing on the Tuesday Garden Party link up :)
Thank you for the tips! I love eggplants in any forms possible! Since I was born and grew up in Ukraine, where abundance of fruit and veggies are enjoyed in every season. My all time favorite is Eggplant Ratatouille (or Eggplant Caviar, how we call it). People can, marinate, ferment, saute, bake and cook them. Older people use them as substitute for meat. Internet could be a great recourse in finding these recipes. Two of my go to are by girls who’s parents are Ukrainian – Natasha’s Kitchen and Olga’s Flavor Factory blogs.