Garden Plot
Eggplant
Although it has been slow arriving, in most areas of the country the warm weather is finally making an appearance. And that means if you have not quite gotten your vegetable garden underway, do not fret as there are still many varieties of vegetables that thrive in warm weather.
Among these warm weather lovers, which includes tomatoes, squash and melons, is the wonderful vegetable/fruit eggplant. This vegetable in particular should be planted once you can be sure that the temperatures will not dip below the 50-degree mark. If you plant now and have a bout of very cool temperatures, be sure to cover the plants at night to prevent frost bite. Ideal soil for planting is a soil that is light and well-draining as rot is common if the soil is allowed to dry out or become compacted by too much moisture.
If using seedlings, be sure to space the plants at least 18-24 inches apart. Also feed with fish emulsion which you can purchase at a good garden center, to help your plants grow strong and produce a good crop. The common variety of “Black Beauty” will usually produce about 10 pieces of fruit per plant if they are trimmed often and when the eggplant is small.
Once the fruit begins to appear, clip from the vine with the stem attached, in order to encourage further production. The time from planting to harvest is between 50-75 days.
Eggplant is a wonderful vegetable to prepare roasted, sautéed and in sauces.