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Growing Eggplants In Pots
Eggplants are hardy vegetables that you can easily grow in your garden. Related to tomatoes, eggplants produce bushes that are up to five feet tall and have hairy, coarse foliage. The shape of the crops varies depending on variety, some produce globular shaped vegetables, while others produce 8-inch long cylindrical crops. Choose a variety according to your needs when growing eggplants in containers.
Starting your cultivation
Varieties that can be perfect for container gardening are Dusty, Little Fingers, Casper, and Black Beauty. Eggplants are warm-weather crops and can be affected drastically by frosts. Schedule your planting when the danger of frost has finally ended. If you cannot wait then start your cultivation indoors about 8 weeks before you plan to transplant your crops outside. Have some small, empty containers or cut-out milk jugs just in case to produce a localized greenhouse effect on your own. Outside temperatures should reach to 64™F at night when growing eggplants in pots.
Eggplants also need a lot of sun. Give your plants at least 6-8 hours of sunlight, preferably more for a healthier plant.
The specifications of your pot or container
There are different containers for you to choose for container gardening. You can use terra cotta pots if your area is slightly colder. Plastic or wood containers are preferred for places that have warm weather as they hold in moisture very well and help insulate the soil. Excessive heat can damage the soil, and this can easily happen in container gardening. Another reason why plastics and wooden containers are advisable for growing eggplants in pots is that they do not absorb any water you give your plants. A reason for failure in container gardening is inadequate moisture, so choose your pots well. A container that is around 3-5 gallons is advised for growing eggplants. Dwarf varieties need at least an 8-inch deep window box for proper cultivation. Larger eggplants will need larger pots of 12 inches deep or more.
Maintain adequate drainage by drilling holes at the bottom of your containers. Others prefer drilling container holes located ¼ to ½ inch from the bottom. Line the bottom of your container with an inch of coarse gravel or small pieces of terra cotta pots to promote drainage. You can use fiber glass mesh nettings for this purpose, as well as to prevent pests from getrting inside the pots.
Preparing your soil or potting mix
Your growing medium is important for container gardening. Never use garden soil it contains pathogens such as fungus, bacteria, and virus that can harm your plant. Buy a potting mix from your local garden store for a better growing medium. Its composition is basically sterile or pasteurized soil, perlite, vermiculite, and compost for water retention and root growth. There are also soilless potting mixes for growing eggplants in containers made up of perlite, vermiculite or sphagnum moss, but going they are used as a second option. You still to mix in a good amount of compost for further nourishment. You can even try slow-release fertilizers such as 15-15-15 or 10-15-10 although compost is still the preferred option. Eggplants prefer a mildly acidic environment therefore you should adjust the soil’s pH to 6.3-6.8 using lime to increase pH or sulfur to decrease it. Mix the soil well and moisten it before you plant your seeds.
As much as possible, do not be stingy when buying potting mix for your eggplant. A cheap potting mix will hold and retain water, drowning your roots and cause damage to your crops
Seeds
Be sure to start seeds when temperatures reach 64 ™F, which would typically be about late February or April. Planting when the soil is cold will shock the seeds and will delay the germination process. Soak the seeds overnight to prepare them for planting. Place two seeds 3 inches apart in a container and cover with ¼ - ½ inch layer of compost. Lightly pat it on the seeds, but not too firmly and water them using a fine hose to prevent washing them out. If the weather is still a bit cool, insulate your seeds by placing an upside down container that is big enough to cover the soil or the entire container. Keep in a warm place and maintain a moist but not wet environment when growing eggplants in pots. Germination usually happens between 10-15 days if warm conditions are maintained. Once seedlings sprout, remove the least-healthy ones once they grow 2 true leaves.
Place the container several inches beneath a fluorescent light that is timed to stay on for 14-16 hours a day. Once the seedlings grow to 4-6 inches, place a stake to support your crops to keep them straight. Harden your seedlings for two weeks before moving them outside.
You can plant more than one eggplant in a large container; just make sure to consider a space of at least two feet between your plants when you do so.
Transplants
Transplants are best if you wish to plant eggplants immediately. With this type of start, you do not need to thin out your crops when planting. You can purchase cell packs or individual containers of eggplant transplants in your local nursery. Ask where your transplants were cultivated to know if you need to harden them off if you wish to grow them outside. As with the seeds, moisten the soil and make sure it is warm before you place your transplants in when growing eggplants in containers. Transplants are also susceptible to frost so make sure that you plant them once there is no more danger of frost in your area. Ideally, there should be just one transplant in one container. If you have a large box, space plants 24 inches apart with 30-36 inches between rows. Handle your transplants with care as the roots of your transplants are very delicate and dislike being disturbed. You may want to place a stake on the pot before you place in your transplant. Dig a hole that is slightly bigger than the size of the container of your transplant. Place about an inch of compost at the bottom and carefully set in your transplant. Cover with soil and an inch of compost and water.
Care and Harvesting
Caring for your eggplant is easy. Mulch your crops with compost or moss to keep in moisture and to ward off weeds. Give your plants slow-release fertilizer every 3 weeks according to package instructions. For a richer, healthier cultivation go organic by giving your eggplants with a side-dress of aged compost manure and drizzle in good compost tea every 2 weeks. Keep the foliage healthy and to keep out pests and disease by spraying your crops with compost tea every 3-4 days.
Harvesting usually comes 50-60 days depending on the variety. Usually, your eggplants are ready once they reach 6-8 inches in size. Observe your crops daily for it can easily change from a vibrant, deep, violet color to dull and brown. Vegetables of this condition are not good for consumption for they are spongy in texture and bitter in taste. Be careful when harvesting as some varieties have thorns. Wear gloves when harvesting and do not pull or twist the vegetables from the plant. You have to use a sharp knife or pruning shears to protect the stems. Leave the calyx attached to the fruit when you harvest.
There are some diseases and pests you have to watch out for when growing eggplants in containers. Aphids can be prevented by placing pots of garlic and chives near the eggplant. Inspect the leaves daily and pick out caterpillars which will eat the leaves. You can also prevent this by doing crop rotation. Spider mites can be prevented by spraying the underside of leaves with water daily or compost tea. Be careful not to over-do it for dry leaves are important for preventing powdery mildew.
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