Eggplant growing at last? Proper care leads to great harvests!

The queen of moussaka and ratatouille, eggplant is among those vegetables we’re happy to meet again in summer. To grow a fabulous harvest, follow our tips on how to care for it.

To learn more, read:

• All there is to know on growing eggplant
• Planting guide for eggplant

When to water eggplant

Eggplant requires regular watering. For each plant, you’ll have to water every 2-3 days if the soil is mulched. A potted eggplant will need watering more often because the soil dries out faster in containers. If this is the case, consider watering every single day, especially when the weather is hot. Since this vegetable cannot cope with sitting water, remember to toss out any extra water that drains out from the bottom of the pot.

Of course, you can adjust these rules if it rains: natural rainfall will give you a few days of rest.

How to water eggplant?

As for tomato, avoid getting leaves wet. Wet leaves are an invitation to fungal diseases like mildew. The method to keep leaves dry is to use a long-spout watering can, and water in a circular pattern around the base of your eggplant. When setting up your vegetable patch (or once it’s already in place), consider installing a drip irrigation system. It’s convenient and affordable when you compute the price of water!

What time of the day should you water eggplant?

It’s best to water either early morning or evening.

The most important factor here is to avoid the hotter hours when the sun shines strong.

Wet leaves and direct sunlight don’t mix well for plants.

Eggplant fertilizer

Fertilizer only helps once the first fruits are forming. Favor a fertilizer that contains lots of potassium: it supports fruit formation and growth. An example of a good fertilizer to use is comfrey weedy tea, which additionally has high amounts of phosphorus. Also use wood ash, if you have some, but don’t overdo it.

Lastly, a great option is to use seaweed which are naturally rich in potassium. They have the added advantage of soaking water up to keep it for later. However, don’t spread them under your plants right after collecting them. You have to remove the salt they contain first: stack them in a pile atop a tarpaulin in a corner of the garden. After 2-3 weeks, thanks to rain, your seaweed is ready for use.

Good to know → A good time to gather seaweed is in winter: add them to your compost directly or start washing them out under the rainwater spout so that they’re ready for use in spring. Also, only gather seaweed that washes up on the beach. Don’t go pulling live seaweed from the beach’s ecosystem! Often, fish stores will have old seaweed that they use to decorate their displays, you can ask them for it and use that. Garden stores increasingly incorporate seaweed products in their soil mix and fertilizers.

How to prune eggplant?

Pruning helps avoid growing flowerless stems (which won’t bear fruit). This maximizes production. Perform this from June to September. It’s a simple step: cut the main stem above the 2nd flower. This will trigger appearance of new stems lower down. Keep only the three most vigorous stems. On each of these, new flowers will appear.

• If you’re in a region where summer is short, cut right after the first flower.
• If your region is warmer, cut after two flowers.

Also remove suckers that appear at the junction where stems connect to the main trunk.

Harvesting eggplant

Eggplant harvest begins in July in warm climates, August wherever it’s cooler. Peel must be shiny and thin. Press your thumb down slightly on the fruit. If the mark disappears quickly, it means your eggplant is ready for harvest.

Don’t wait for too long before harvesting, or your eggplants will turn out more bitter.

How to recover eggplant seeds

When preparing your eggplant for cooking, don’t throw out the seeds that are at the center! Recover them with a spoon, and rinse them out in cold water. Remove all the flesh and wrap them in a clean cloth to dry. Let them dry out for three weeks in the open, in a place that is well ventilated. Once the seeds are dry, slip them in an envelope and write the date and variety on it. You’ll be able to plant your own seeds from one year to the next! However, this seed collection technique only works for heirloom and non-hybrid varieties.

To learn more, read:

• All there is to know on growing eggplant
• Eggplant: 6 varieties to savor