Eggplant

When originally introduced in this country several hundred years ago, eggplant was commonly white like a goose egg, thus the name eggplant. It can be prepared many different ways, and there are now many different types for color and shape, giving consumers and growers plenty of choices. Untreated seed available.

Growing Tips:
Sow seeds inside 8-10 weeks prior to transplanting. Select a rich, sandy location that has been out of eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and strawberries for several years to avoid soil-borne disease. Plastic mulch and continuous harvesting will help to produce high quality yields.

Fresh Market Grower Tips:
Eggplant can be grown much the same as your peppers and tomatoes with very little difficulty. Although demand for the fruit is generally less than peppers and tomatoes, they bring good prices since they're considered gourmet items There are many shapes, sizes and maturities from which to choose.

Culture:
Because this is a warm weather crop, it’s usually handled as a transplant. Sow seed inside 8-10 weeks prior to field setting. It should germinate in 7-10 days if soil temperature is about 80° F. Grow on at 70° F., and harden off at 60° F. before field setting. Select a rich sandy field that has been out of eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and strawberries for 5-10 years to avoid soil-borne Verticillium infection. Plastic mulch is very beneficial in growing heavy yields of firm, fresh eggplants. Timely, careful harvests will also help to maintain a continuous high quality supply.

Average Seed Count: 35 per packet; 6,300 sds./Oz.; 100,000/Lb.