Eggplant

Growing

Because eggplants are even more sensitive to cold than tomatoes or peppers, you should wait until the soil has warmed and the danger of frost has completely passed before transplanting. To ensure strong root development, prepare your garden bed by tilling the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. If you are dealing with heavy, compacted earth, digging deeper to break up any hard pans will help the roots spread easily. When choosing a site, avoid planting in the same spot where you recently grew potatoes, tomatoes, or peppers, as these crops share similar vulnerabilities to diseases like verticillium wilt and anthracnose.

To protect your young seedlings from wind damage, consider providing a bit of shelter during their early growth. As the plants mature, focus on maintaining well-drained soil to prevent issues like damping-off or seed rot. When it comes to the harvest, you must pick the fruit when it is fully ripe and ready to use, as the fruit will not continue to ripen once it has been removed from the vine. For longer-lasting use, you can blanch the fruit before freezing it. If you plan to store your harvest, keep the fruit unwashed to help it last longer.