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 75°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 30 inches 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

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15 Nov 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
My trees are very healthy and produce many flowers but disappointingly no fruit seem to set. A patch of beans at close proximity thereto has cropped very well, (just as a comparison for you may also think as I did that possibly the lack of pollinators may be the cause).
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13 Nov 11, Kaytee (Australia - tropical climate)
My eggplant is healthy looking and flowering very well but fruit doesn't set. I tried to pollinate them but that didn't work either. Can you help please.
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04 Nov 11, Mohan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Pru, Epsom salts is MgSO4(Magnisium sulphate). Mg is an important constituent in Chlorophyll, the green substance in leaves that is required for photosynthesis i.e. making food for the plant. One gram epsom salt in a litre of water sprayed early in the morning helps some plants to set fruit. Potash is K2SO4 and generally helps plant for flowering..
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27 Sep 11, Eggplant (Australia - arid climate)
I live in the hills in Perth. I have 4 plants I wanted to move to another bed. Is this wise, will they still fruit again?
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16 Sep 11, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted seedlings last year Oct-Nov, grew slowly, flowered but no fruit. Any ideas??
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09 Oct 11, Pru (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi John, sprinkle Epsom salts in a line 10cms long about 5 cms out from the trunk, the potassium will help flowers set fruit. Worked brilliantly for me last year.
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18 Nov 11, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Epsom salts is magnesium sulphate. Did you actually use this or potash (potassium sulphate)?
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06 Oct 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like you don't have enough bees to fertilise the fruit?
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08 Oct 11, Tracey (Australia - arid climate)
The problem isn't likely to be lack of pollinators as eggplants self-fertile and predominantly wind pollinated (although some cross pollination between plants can occur via insects, too). Did flowers form and then drop? Temps that are too low can affect fruit set, as can temps that are too high (as with tomatoes and capsicums). The optimal temperature window is likely to vary a little depending on the variety.
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21 Aug 11, Gayle Bryan (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I see that you recommend planting eggplant in the spring. Before I found this website, I was using UF's recommendations which supported planting eggplant in the fall. Will eggplant planted in the fall produce much fruit?
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Showing 271 - 280 of 358 comments
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A quick tip for those trying to grow eggplant in a cool climate with a short growing season - rather than waiting for the end of Spring frost (usually November here), you really should be getting eggplants in the ground by October at the latest. They need a long growing season to produce abundant fruit and the warm weather months in these climates are limited. They take a long time to raise from seed, so are best purchased at nurseries etc. at this time of year. To protect them from Spring frosts one trick is to cut off the top halves of plastic softdrink or mineral water bottles, remove the lid for ventilation, and securely place the top half in the circle of soil surrounding the young seedling. In the event of late frost, this will improve their chances of survival. If growing in containers, moving them to a sheltered, part-sun location (eg. under the dappled shade of a tree) may also help protect them from late frosts. The same can be done for other frost sensitive crops in the nightshade family eg. tomatoes, chillies, capsicum. Happy gardening, P.

- Prometheus

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