Growing Eggplants in Container Pots
Growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 10, eggplants (Solanum melongena) are beloved for their glossy fruit used in cooking. The colors and sizes of the fruits vary, as well as the size and shape of the plant. Compact varieties that require little to no trellising work well in container vegetable gardens. For a successful container garden, you need to pay special attention to water, sunlight, fertilizer and the growing medium. Eggplants are short-lived perennials, but they are usually grown as annuals.
Mix 1 bushel of shredded sphagnum peat moss, 1 bushel of vermiculite, 1 1/4 cups of ground limestone, 1/2 cup of super phosphate with a composition rating of 0-20-0 and 1 cup of a 5-10-5 granular fertilizer while adding water slowly. Fill a nursery flat with the potting mix, and store the leftovers in a plastic bag. Plant one seed per cell, covering the seeds with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of the potting mix.
Put the flat in a warm area that receives about six hours of sunlight daily. Cover the flat with clear plastic sheeting to encourage faster germination. Keep the soil evenly moist. Eggplants usually germinate in eight to 12 days, and are at the best size for transplanting at six to eight weeks.
Mix 2 cups of a 10-20-10, 8-16-8 or 12-24-12 complete fertilizer with 1 gallon of warm water. Dilute the solution with 2 tablespoons of the solution per gallon of water. Water sprouting eggplants with the solution daily, except one day per week, when you should give them regular water.
Fill a 12- to 14-inch plastic, clay or ceramic container that has bottom drainage holes with the potting mix. Eggplants are ready to transplant into the final container when they have their first two to three true leaves. Transplant one seedling per container, handling them by the root ball to avid crushing their stems. Apply enough water so it runs freely out of the bottom drainage holes.
Install a two-wire tomato cage next to each seedling. The cage will help hold up the plant when it gets heavy from the fruit. Put the eggplant in a warm area that receives about six hours of sunlight daily. A balcony, patio, windowsill or doorstep is ideal.
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season by applying the nutrient solution. It's best to water until the solution runs out the bottom drainage holes about once or twice per day except one day per week, when you should use regular water.
- Shredded sphagnum peat moss
- Ground limestone
- 0-20-0 super phosphate
- 5-10-5 granular fertilizer
- Nursery flat
- Plastic bag
- Plastic sheeting
- Complete fertilizer -- 10-20-10, 8-16-8 or 12-24-12
- 12- to 14-inch plastic, clay or ceramic container with drainage holes
- Two-wire tomato cage
- Aphids, spider mites and tomato hornworms target eggplants. A strong blast of water will knock off any aphids and spider mites. Handpick tomato hornworms -- small green worms.
- Eggplants are ready for harvesting 90 to 120 from seeding. When ripe, the skin of the fruit will be unwrinkled and glossy. Cut the fruit off the plant so there is only about 1 inch of stem attached.
- Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Garden Report; Growing Great Container Vegetables Eggplants: Eggplants; Steve Bogash
- Iowa State University Extension: Container Vegetable Gardening
- The Old Farmer's Almanac: Eggplant
- AgriLife Extension: Vegetable Gardening in Containers
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images