how to grow eggplant from seeds in pots

There are plenty of flowers, but no fruit. They can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Eggplant, peppers and tomatoes ... Eggplants require around 100 to 120 days to mature from seeds. Depending on the size of the pots, you can plant 2 to three seeds which you can thin after. Alternatively, buy 6- to 8-week-old nursery transplants just before planting. The seeds germinate best at temperatures above 24 deg C (75 deg F), so keep in a warmer place inside the house. You do not want to pick eggplant before it is ripe. Sow one seed per seedling pot about ¼” deep. Why? You can eat it right out of the oven or cold the next day. Black Jack and Super hybrid are both highly resistant against verticillium wilt, a disease that commonly affects eggplants and severely reduces yield. Pick eggplant when the skin takes on a high gloss. Keep the soil moist. Seedling trays and other containers made of cheap plastic may make it easier to transfer your seedlings into larger pots later on. Plant your seedlings around early June to ensure that the soil stays appropriately warm. Start seeds indoors in flats or peat pots 8–9 weeks prior to the last spring frost date. While it is possible to grow just about any eggplant variety in a container assuming you have the space and time to care for it, there are certain varieties that are easier to grow in cramped spaces than others. Clay or plastic pot will be good choices. The eggplants should be placed outdoors in a sunny spot so they can be pollinated. You can start growing eggplant in containers either from seeds or plant starts. Make sure that the seeds are about 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) under the surface of the growing medium. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ", "First time eggplant grower, and in pots. Place a few seeds in each cell or pot, and cover gently with 1/4 inch of soil. After the plant flowers, switch to a fertilizer with high potassium, such as 9-15-30. It’s absolutely possible to grow eggplant in colder climates, however, and you’ll find several tips throughout this article for how to do so. Planting season. Although it is quite challenging to grow eggplants from seeds, this is the common option for many home gardeners. You just need enough space and … If there is not enough light, you can consider Grow Lights. References Fortunately, they do not require too much care, and are fairly easy to grow. Today we'll show you how to grow eggplant in pots or containers because it will save you a ton of space, and, if you live in an apartment, can also be grown on your balcony! We use cookies to make wikiHow great. And place them in a warm spot and on top of the refrigerator or seedling heat mats would be perfect. Eggplants need about a square foot of space each to grow. Germination takes up to 10 days. Here's how to grow eggplants in gardens or pots. Novices should also consider trying Hansel or Fairy Tale. Eggplants are one of the most delicious and versatile vegetables you can grow. Follow along with this handy How to Grow Eggplants Guide and grow food. Digging any deeper than that could disturb the eggplant's roots, which are rather shallow. You’ll want to plant all of your pepper seeds to get maximum color variations. Grow Aubergine/Brinjal/Eggplant at Home| Fast N EasyThe Eggplant/Brinjal/Aubergine is called the King of Vegetables by some cultures. When potting mature seedlings or purchased starts, mix an all-purpose fertilizer into your potting soil at the beginning of the season. The bottom heat should be continued until daytime temperatures are in the 70s. Eggplant is amongst one of the easiest vegetables to grow in your garden. Most gardeners across the US care for eggplant in two ways. You can try identifying male and female flowers, and then pollinating them by hand. It helped me teach a student. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. (Germination normally takes 7–10 days). The eggplant belongs to the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. I wanted to have a complete idea, "Marvelous. Alternatively, buy 6- to 8-week-old nursery transplants just before planting. Eggplant seeds are smaller than pepper seeds. Eggplant seeds can be sown anytime from February to April, but if they are to be grown unprotected outside i.e. Eggplant seeds will start germinating from the 5th day onwards. Seed will not germinate in cool soil. It’s absolutely possible to grow eggplant in colder climates, however, and you’ll find several tips … Eggplants are a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offer a number of eggplant varieties to try growing yourself. See to it that the seeds are disease-free. Thanks. Sow one seed per seedling pot about ¼” deep. Generally, pick it when it is on the smaller side. The supplies you will need to grow eggplants from cuttings include: A mason jar, a one-gallon plant container, potting soil, organic compost, mulch, garden stakes (6-by-½ inch wide), and a roll of twine. Place a few seeds in each cell or pot, and cover gently with 1/4 inch of soil. Sowing eggplant seeds Sow eggplant seeds in cell packs or small pots for 1/4 inch deep. We can grow eggplant seeds indoors and later you can shift in your courtyard or in a container. They grow in an average of four years long. 5 actively reacting seeds of each crop indicate good selection and readiness for sowing. Peppers are easy to grow in containers, and they are attractive, too, coming in many colors. Growing from seeds: Sow 4 seeds/in., ¼" deep, and maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F (27-32°C) until emergence and 70°F (21°C) thereafter. Can Black Beauty Eggplant Grow from Seeds? How to Container Grow Eggplant One of the most important elements of container grown eggplant is the container. ", https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-an-eggplant-in-a-pot/, https://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/articles/2002/typeofpots.shtml, https://extension.psu.edu/container-grown-eggplants, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdRAtmfORJ0, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20706884/growing-eggplants/, https://harvesttotable.com/fertilizer-for-tomatoes-peppers-and-eggplants/, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Your goal is to keep the soil moist, but not soaking wet. This helped me a great deal. Lightly drop the soil over the seeds rather than packing it in. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Snip the eggplant off its vine using pruning shears. Maintain the soil moisture. You can also buy eggplant seedlings from garden nurseries instead of starting from seed. Remember, the eggplants require a lot of warmth for germination, more than tomatoes and peppers. A boost of 5-10-5 fertilizer should help significantly if a lack of nutrition is your plant's only problem. When to Plant Eggplant. Organic eggplants are tricky to grow. Once the seeds have germinated (typically 7 to 14 days), uncover the container and move it to a sunny window for maximum sun exposure. It is germinated on 7-14 days for which bottom heating is essential. This disease is fairly common in traditional garden soil. Latin … To test, press the skin. Start the seeds in small pots or cell packs filled with a bagged or homemade seed-starting mix. This makes it easy to grow from seedling but the germination process is not hard you can learn steps. Sowing eggplant seeds. How To Grow Brinjal Plant From Seeds From Seeds In Pots | Eggplant from seeds #eggplant #brinjal #grow. Growing eggplant requires warm garden soil and warm air temperatures for … Larger plants will grow in containers as well, but you’ll need … Eggplant seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days, depending on the heat, moisture provided, and moisture content and age of the seed. You must also keep the soil thoroughly moist, but not soaked, and well fed with fertilizer and organic matter. This article has been viewed 218,906 times. How to Grow Eggplant Plants Six to eight weeks before the average last frost in your area, begin to sow eggplant seeds indoors. Seedlings can be transplanted to the garden in about two months, or they can be grown to maturity in a large container. Globe eggplants are traditional large purple or… of space per plant or three plants can be placed in a 20-inch (50 cm.) Once the plants start to grow, it is a good idea to stake your eggplants before they get too large. The flowers are gorgeous, and the eggplants look like little (or big) molded sculptures. In general, they do best in zones 5-12, and will grow as a perennial in zones 10-12. Here are a few of our favorite eggplant varieties for planting in pots: If you want a long-lasting plant, plant with seeds. Also, consistent watering is key to continued eggplant health. These seeds can be used for the next 4-5 years. Eggplant seed planting should occur four to six weeks before your last frost date. Moving on to our how to grow eggplant guide, now it is time to plant the eggplant. Plant eggplant seeds at a depth of 1/4 inch (6 mm) and water gently. The other way is to buy seedlings from a nursery. Do not dig any deeper than 1/2-inch (1 1/4 centimeters) beneath the surface of the soil when scratching in fertilizer. These are tiny watermelon types, which are perfect to grow in small pots. Beautiful big plants for a decorative container in the sunshine, eggplants are as diverse as the cultures that cook with them – and quite easy to grow. Choose the dark-colored pots because it absorbs more sunlight, or if you don’t have then color your old pots. After that, the seeds are placed on a flat surface in a place where the heat is maintained at 30 ° C. The fabric is constantly moisturized. I recommend these seed starter peat pots because they are so convenient and eliminate root disturbance. Vast amounts of sunlight are the key in keeping your eggplants happy, primarily due to the fact that eggplants thrive in warm soil. If the leaves of your eggplant begin to pale, you may need to add more fertilizer. In a deep pot, it would continue to grow and leave the edges with spirals. Most varieties will be fine tied to a piece of bamboo or a wooden stake sunk deeply into your pot. Repot eggplant seedlings into larger pots filled with potting soil or the same mix the seeds were germinated in. Seedlings will emerge in 7-10 days. And place them in a warm spot and on top of the refrigerator or seedling heat mats would be perfect. Find Out Which Is Best for Your Garden, 10 Best Vegetables That Grow in Containers. Using your fingers, push 1-2 eggplant seeds into the growing medium in each individual seed container. You could also buy premium eggplant seeds through here. Always check the label of a product before using it on your plants. [1] X Research source There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Tip the container on its side and slowly guide the seedling, soil and all, out of the pot. "I started growing my vegetables 8 years ago, but never had eggplant in my garden. Many eggplant varieties do well in containers. ", "I am trying to grow eggplant seeds indoors. Leave on the skin and cut it into small pieces about a half-inch square. If you choose a 20-inch pot, you can plant three compact eggplant varieties in it. ... How to Save Eggplant Seeds // Massive Eggplant - Duration: 7:37. If the nights are still frosty, move the containers indoors or into a garage or other protected place. You’ll also need to provide a staking system to support them as they grow taller. Be careful about the pesticides, anti-fungal treatments, and other chemicals you spray onto your eggplants. I could understand all the steps of planting the eggplant very well. Eggplant seeds will germinate in about ten days and will be ready for transplanting in 6 to 8 weeks. To start eggplant seedlings, you’ll want to plant the seeds between 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. of the process, as I am very protective toward my crops. Learn more... Eggplants need a great deal of space to grow, but you can grow them in a container as long as you have a large enough pot. Many of these chemicals are not safe for human consumption, which means that you should not use them on vegetables you plan to eat. About 8 weeks before the last frost, sow seeds inside in small pots filled with seed raising mix. Sow eggplant seeds in cell packs or small pots for 1/4 inch deep. Eggplants need temperatures over 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but you can plant them indoors during the spring to get a head start. Plant the seeds 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) deep and moisten the medium. Use certified seeds and potting mix for the best-growing result. Look for the word “compact” in the plant’s name. Use a gentle, circular motion to swirl the pollen around the inside of the flower. After reading this, a beginner can plot an eggplant in a very easy manner. Eggplant is a perennial but is usually grown annually in temperate locales, and is actually a berry containing edible seeds. If you would like to grow white eggplants, you could try the Gretel variety, as well. Pot Black is a recently bred variety especially meant for container gardening. A single eggplant can produce 100s or 1000s of viable healthy seeds. How to Grow Eggplant in pots. If you do have a big yard though, and can … Planting the Eggplant. Keep moist after germination and allow to grow for another eight days or so. Give eggplants a head start on the growing season by starting them indoors, six to nine weeks before the average last frost. If the indentation doesn't spring back, that fruit is ready for harvest. Seeds sprout in 7 -14 days. These seeds are tiny flat white seeds just like pepper or tomato seeds but smaller in size. Eggplant requires a lot of nutrients. Any eggplant suits container growing, but the heirloom and smaller varieties perform particularly well. If you intend to transplant your seedlings to the garden, start the seeds 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost date in your area. To grow eggplants in pots, you'll need to make sure they have plenty of space and sunlight. How to Grow Eggplant Plants. Do not plant eggplant transplants into the garden until after the last threat of frost. Eggplant from Seed I will be showing how to grow Eggplant aka Aubergine aka Brinjal from seed in containers. Photo: Johnny’s Seeds. ", "Excellent article. 11.Cover the seeds with extra potting mix. If you are growing eggplant in a pot or container, it is also a good idea to use some type of mulch, like straw or wood chips to cover the soil, which helps to keep the soil moist. I personally guarantee that this came from a healthy mature plant that is free from diseases. Nurture your eggplant sprouts for 8 to 10 weeks before moving them to the garden or taking them outdoors in permanent containers. Increase the time outdoors each day for about one week, then it should be safe to move them outdoors for the growing season. Choose small pots or plastic trays if you growing eggplant from seed. After preparing the seeds, prepare the container that you will use. The soil temperature should be above 18-degree Celcius or 65 F to start germination. Turn the pieces once or twice until the eggplant is brown and soft. Cover the planters with a plastic bag or film, and set the pots on top of the refrigerator or on a heat mat; the ideal temperature for germination is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Eggplants are a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Aubergine is a tropical fruit that takes some care to grow in the UK or colder climates but is simple in warmer countries so in this video I will include temperatures, growing mediums, containers, and the best way to grow healthy plants. Eggplant comes in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes. Eggplant needs a fast-draining potting soil, but also one that will not dry out too fast. ", "This helped me a lot for our Livelihood education project with the vivid pictures. We can grow eggplant seeds indoors and later you can shift in your courtyard or in a container. Diligently protect outdoor plants from cold in spring. You need one pot for every two seeds. These would provide the fruit with the necessary support, so pay special attention to it. Planting two seeds improves the chances of at least one seed sprouting. If you are new to growing eggplants indoors we advise you to do not grow from seed but seedlings from the garden store. ", "Happily growing vegetables in Kolkata, Thank you wikiHow! They either grow them from seed or acquire them as saplings and then transfer them to either a pot or in the ground. ... eggplants grow readily from seed sown in pots of quality seed-raising mix, ... Place pots in a warm protected spot and keep the mix moist until the seeds germinate. Also, read the instructions from the manufacturer to learn how to properly take care of the plant. Eggplant seeds are available on Seedsnow.com. There are so many ways to cook eggplant, really, there is no best way to cook it. Know when is the best time to start planting the eggplant seeds, which varies according to the climate zone. Simply follow the planting instructions above from the transplanting steps onward. Here are a few of our favorite eggplant varieties for planting in pots: Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 218,906 times. Start the seeds in small pots or cell packs filled with a bagged or homemade seed-starting mix. Keep the soil moist with a spray bottle. Beautiful big plants for a decorative container in the sunshine, eggplants are as diverse as the cultures that cook with them – and quite easy to grow. Egg plant is a heat loving bushy plant, and with the proper care, will produce a beautiful, bountiful harvest. How to grow eggplant in pots and simple work at home - my agriculture. Eggplant seeds need a warm soil for it to thrive. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Dark-colored pots contain the heat inside. Because eggplant is sensitive to transplant shock, start seeds in larger 4-inch containers (I like this type from Amazon) and harden off plants before planting them in … ", "It is very good. When they get too stressed from heat or cold, the flowers will just fall off. Once your eggplants reach about 6 inches in height, transplant them to a bigger pot of at least 5 gallons. Seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 70 to 90°F. There are so many ways to enjoy eggplant and if you love cooking with it, why not grow it? Water them well, cover loosely with a plastic bag or a plastic seedling flat cover to retain moisture, and place them in a warm spot―on top of the refrigerator or on seedling heat mats would be perfect. Prepare seed starting pots with compost or a rich organic garden soil. Do not plant eggplant transplants into the garden until after the last threat of frost. not in a greenhouse or polytunnel, it would be best to start them off indoors to give them as much of a head start as possible. Fortunately, they do not require too much care, and are fairly easy to grow. Today we'll show you how to grow eggplant in pots or containers because it will save you a ton of space, and, if you live in an apartment, can also be grown on your balcony! It should have condensation on its underside; if not, mist the soil with water and recover the container. You will need to know what kind of eggplant you have planted to know when to harvest it. Sow eggplant seeds in cell packs or small pots, 1/4 inch deep. Water them well, and cover loosely with a plastic bag or a plastic seedling flat cover to retain moisture. You can grow Black Beauty eggplant from seed, starting them indoors about 12 weeks before planting time. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. You can grow eggplant in a square foot garden or raised bed. When shopping for pots, you’ll find that many of them are either glazed or unglazed. It is important to have the right size depending on what you will plant. Useful for a terrace gardener. They grow on … Also, eggplant, like tomatoes, are heat lovers. Toss the eggplant with a little olive oil, some kosher salt, and pepper. An increase in temperature will increase the rate of germination. (Germination normally takes 7–10 days). Prepare seed starting pots with compost or a rich organic garden soil. Choose seeds depending on the variety that you would like to plant. Clay pots are also heavier than plastic pots, making it easier for them to support the weight of a mature eggplant. Place the Seedling tray or pots over a heating mat, especially if you are living in cold zones. Do not plant eggplants near fennel. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. In general, they do best in zones 5-12, and will grow as a perennial in zones 10-12. Growing Egg Plant in Containers and Garden Beds Eggplants can be grown in garden beds and pots as well. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Do not plant eggplants near fennel. Seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 70 to 90°F. Although eggplant seeds are tiny, sow the seeds about ¼-inch (6 mm.) This makes eggplant a popular vegetable to grow in containers because you can always move them around for the best view. If you are using a very light soil, you will have to water enough times during the day so that the soil does not completely dry out. This article has been viewed 218,906 times. It can be round, long and thin, or pear-shaped. Eggplant or Solanum melongena is one of the many vegetable plants that you can grow in garden or large containers. For general feeding, apply a diluted liquid fertilizer every other week during the growing season. Reapply the pelleted fertilizer after 10-12 weeks. deep with good quality potting soil in flats or cell containers. Start seeds indoors in flats or peat pots 8–9 weeks prior to the last spring frost date. In the heat of the summer, depending on your pot size, that may mean you need to water your plant twice a day or more. Start seeds indoors or in a homemade greenhouse once danger of frost has passed. Keep the seeds in containers in a dark and warm place until the seeds have sprouted. They come in large variety so choose according to your taste. There are some early growing species that are used in areas where the climate is cold. Cover over the seeds and mist or sprinkle water onto the surface. For more tips, including how to deal with pests when growing eggplants outdoors, read on! A good rule of thumb is to pick eggplant when the skin appears glossy and the fruit has a little give when you squeeze it. Sometimes it becomes difficult to control pests and diseases when grown in garden beds. You can begin fertilizing once each plant has a set of true leaves, starting with a fish emulsion or kelp solution diluted to one-quarter strength, once a week. Use punnets or small pots filled with a quality organic seed raising potting mix. First, you grow the plant seeds inside a house. These plants need a lot of sunlight, water and good quality soil. If you do have a big yard though, and can afford the … ", "The information provided was easy to understand and very helpful as I have never grown egg plant before. How to grow eggplant from seed. Most vegetables can be successfully grown in pots. It’s only real pest is the black flea beetle, which are said to not trouble eggplants that are grown at least a foot and a half off the ground, meaning patio containers and raised beds are the perfect place to grow eggplant. Approved. You have more flexibility with container-grown plants, but the same general timeframe is recommended, to take advantage of the full growing season. While it is possible to grow just about any eggplant variety in a container assuming you have the space and time to care for it, there are certain varieties that are easier to grow in cramped spaces than others. To avoid disease, use a premium potting mix. Moist, compact soil will be easier to transplant than dry, crumbly soil. Use a dome or cloche to retain heat as well as humidity to encourage germination when eggplant seed planting indoors. If you need to increase the pH, try using agricultural lime. Since some eggplant varieties can grow up to 4-feet high, choose a pot size of at least 5 gallons. Eggplants as we know it is easy to maintain. Eggplant is one of the easiest vegetables to grow because very little plagues it. Soil Eggplants… ", "For beginners, this article is awesome.". Just the right size for a container are Parks Mini Bells or Sweetie Pie Peppers. For successful seed germination, a seedling heat mat will ensure soil temperature can … How To Grow Herbs Indoors on a Sunny Windowsill, Vegetable Seeds or Seedlings? You can also build a bamboo cage or use a coated metal tomato cage. Each plant requires five-gallon pots at a minimum. When you plant the eggplant, stake it right away. Starting Eggplants from Seeds Ensure you plant up to two seeds in each cell of a seedling tray or directly sow two seeds in each container. This was my rookie mistake, as I had to keep transferring the plants into larger containers. Growing eggplant in pot. If the seedling is in a cheap plastic container, you can “wiggle” it out of the container by bending the plastic. But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. A fertilizer with a higher number, meaning a higher percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, may prove too strong. There are some early growing species that are used in areas where the climate is cold. Your eggplant bushes need pots from 12 to 14 inches in diameter. Water and keep them in a warm and bright place in your home. Six to eight weeks before the average last frost in your area, begin to sow eggplant seeds indoors. Depending on the size of the pots, you can plant 2 to three seeds which you can thin after. If the conditions are too cold, the plants will fail to thrive. You can grow Brinjal in Pots in two ways. If you are growing vegetables in pots make sure you use compost rather than soil because the soil will dry out too quickly. Sowing Eggplant Seeds. Immensely helpful. First, you grow the plant seeds inside a house. Growing eggplant from seed requires some care, but it is worth the effort because there is a huge variety you can buy in seed form, while nurseries often carry only a few types. They probably are not pollinated. CaliKim29 Garden & … How to Grow Vegetables at Home in Pots. 12.Set the pots or trays out on a warm, sunny windowsill. This article is very user-friendly, thanks a lot. To create this article, 14 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Start planting chilli seeds in the UK between January to early March for long season chinense varieties and February to April for shorter season annuum, frutescen and other species. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Grow-Eggplants-in-Pots-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Eggplants-in-Pots-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/69\/Grow-Eggplants-in-Pots-Step-1.jpg\/aid2202281-v4-728px-Grow-Eggplants-in-Pots-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"