eggplant
Planting eggplant: These are the most important steps – from sowing to harvest
The aubergine, a subtropical plant native to Asia, is a popular vegetable around the world
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Although aubergines prefer a subtropical climate, breeding is possible in this country. With the right location and the necessary care, the purple nightshade plants even grow successfully in the home garden.
Due to its egg-shaped fruits, the vegetable plant from Asia is also called egg tree, egg fruit or egg plant. Typical of the annual nightshade plant are its furry, large leaves and violet flowers (with yellow stamens), from which the aubergines will later develop – preferably at 25 degrees in a wind-protected, sunny location. Since the spring-like temperatures in Germany at the time of sowing are far from warm enough, you have to help a little. How to successfully plant and harvest eggplant will be discussed below.
Planting eggplant: the right location
eggplants are particularly in need of warmth: For optimal growth, the vegetable plants need temperatures of around 25 degrees. For this reason, a greenhouse is the best location for rearing – alternatively, they need a warm, sheltered spot outdoors. However, if the outside temperature falls below 15 degrees, the eggplants stop growing. It is also important to know that aubergines do not like high humidity, so in the foil greenhouse should be ventilated regularly. As far as the soil is concerned, the subtropical plants prefer loose and humus-rich soil – preferably in combination with something compost soil. Rearing works just as well in (raised) beds as in flower tubs, as long as the aubergines have enough space and are supplied with sufficient water.
The sowing and care of eggplants
Aubergines need a lot of time before they bear the first fruit – for this reason, sowing should be done as early as possible (preferably between late January and early March) take place. Use suitable containers for the cultivation, in which you put nutrient-rich seed soil and lightly compact, as well as one seed per pot: the sowing depth should be between one and two centimetres. Water the soil thoroughly and cover it with a transparent film for more humidity. Ask the cultivation vessels then to a warm, sunny spot like the window sill. After seven to 21 days, the plants should start to germinate. You can prick out the aubergines as they grow so that individual shoots (and fruits) develop more vigorously.
When it comes to care, you can support your aubergine plants like this:
- Fertilize the nightshade up August sparingly, but gladly several times. A classic one is suitable for this vegetable fertilizer or horn shavings. Alternatively, you can also make nettle manure yourself (here is a guide to).
- Water the vegetables regularly, as aubergines release a lot of water into the air through their large leaves. Make sure that the soil never dries out completely, but is also not too wet.
- Use one climbing aid, which your vegetable plants can hold on to. As the fruit ripens, the weight of the individual shoots increases and encourages them to snap or tear off.
Plant and harvest eggplants
in the May the young nightshades can be planted out – for example in the vegetable garden, the greenhouse or a raised bed on the balcony. A nutrient-rich, loose potting soil is also important here. When repotting, make sure to keep a minimum distance of 60 centimeters between the plants. This gives the growing leaves and shoots enough space to spread out. To support the increasing weight, a trellis per aubergine makes sense. In between July and September the fruits should be harvestable. You can tell when it’s the right time by the rich violet color that you know from aubergines. Another indication are the sepals: if the fruits are ripe, the leaves are light green and not browned.
Source: my beautiful garden
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