Growing Eggplant, also Aubergine

Solanum sp. : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                S S    
                    T T

(Best months for growing Eggplant in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings

September: Bring on in pots - need a long growing season

  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 24°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 60 - 75 cm apart
  • Harvest in 12-15 weeks. Cut fruit with scissors or sharp knife.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, capsicum, lettuce, amaranth, thyme
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

05 Jan 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are they eating the leaves? If a grub find a spray from a nursery or look up internet for an organic spray. I had a weird little grub eat my egg plant leaves- I used a spray from the Men's Shed - don't know it name - used for cucumber fly.
11 Jan 19, Sue brumby (Australia - temperate climate)
Theyre beetle like insects and make tiny holes in the leaf. Sometimes there’s almost no leaf left. The plant looks very sick and can die
21 Jan 19, Sharen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Sue, I’ve had a similar problem. Have you tried soapy water? 1 tblsp dish washing liquid to 5 litres water or look up a recipe for chilli and garlic spray. I also noticed leaf hoppers around at the same time. I use the same spray. Good luck.
30 Oct 18, Kym H (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I only planted my eggplant tree about a month ago it is less than 30cm tall and is already growing fruit should I cut off the early fruit until the tree gets established
30 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like you have poor soil - give it some fertiliser. Generally a plant goes to seed if it is under stress - lack of water fertiliser etc.
01 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If the plants are small and weak then it is lack of fertiliser. I have strong plants about 15
04 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have strong plants about 15-18 (?)
10 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My plants are flowering from about 15-18
02 Jun 18, Caroline (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I have never grown eggplant before but successfully grew 6 plants this year outside in Invercargill. They produced well and have just started to die off now that we are getting frosts every night. I have harvested all the fruit but was wondering if it is worth leaving them in the ground for next year or just pulling them out and starting again next year.
13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read the notes at the bottom of the page.
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