Eggplant can be planted in any month and anywhere in the Philippines but it’s best from February to June.
What is the best month to plant eggplant?
Eggplants can only grow in warm soil—50 degrees Fahrenheit or above. The best time to plant eggplant is in late spring after the last threat of frost. Eggplants have a long growing season, so you’ll need to start them indoors around eight weeks before your region’s last frost date.
How long does eggplant grow in the Philippines?
three to four months
Talong or eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a vegetable that is extensively grown locally. Producing this crop will only take three to four months when grown from seed. Photo by Dan-Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash. Eggplant is a popular ingredient in various Pinoy recipes, such as tortang talong or eggplant omelet.
How do eggplant grow in the Philippines?
Eggplant grows best in sandy loam to clay loam soils. Eggplant can be grown in a deep fertile and well drained, silt loam to clay loam, with a pH range of 5.5 – 6.5. It can grow on temperature between 20-30 centigrade during daytime and 20-27 centigrade at night. Rainfall requirements varies from 1000-1500 mm annually.
Is eggplant easy to grow in the Philippines?
The crop thrives best in sandy loam and clay loam textured soils with pH value ranging from 5.5 to 6.8. The water requirement of the crop is 35 to 40 millimeter per week. It is moderately sensitive to flooding and moisture sensitive during flowering and fruit enlarging.
What is the best fertilizer for eggplant?
A balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) is often recommended for eggplant. Feeding too much nitrogen at this point can result in large, leafy plants that fail to produce fruit.
How do you make eggplant grow faster?
Eggplants prefer warm soil. You can speed up their growth, by laying black plastic over your garden soil a few weeks before planting or mulching the plants with dark compost. 8. The first few flowers may drop off of each plant and fail to produce, but the remaining flowers will each yield a single fruit.
What is the best variety of eggplant in the Philippines?
Long and purple eggplant varieties, like the Fortuner F1 and Banate King F1, are popular in most regions in the Philippines. Meanwhile, long, green, and white eggplant like the Amor F1 is grown mostly in Batangas. Our Ilocano fellowmen prefer the short and oblong types like the Domino F1.
How do you fertilize eggplant?
Fertilize weekly with a soluble fertilizer. Until the plants start to flower use a balanced fertilizer with a 1-1-1 ratio such as 20-20-20 or 20-30-20. Once flowering starts switch to a high potassium blend such as 9-15-30 or any fertilizer with a 1-1.5-3 or 4 ratio.
How do you prepare the soil for eggplant?
Soil preparation
Eggplant prefers well-drained, fertile, sandy loam soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.2. Remove all weeds and till the soil to loosen it to a depth of 6 to 10 inches. The higher the organic matter content of the soil the better, so incorporate a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost if possible.
How many years do eggplants live?
Most eggplant cultivars are grown as annuals and thus live for only a single year. In such cases, the plants die immediately after harvesting the eggplant fruits. Eggplant can be grown as a perennial, in which case it will live for about 3 years but this is uncommon.
Where does eggplant grow best?
Plant eggplant in a location that gets full sun—at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day—for the best results. Eggplant grows best in a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil that is fairly high in organic matter.
How long do eggplants take to grow?
Eggplants are ready to harvest as soon as 70 days after sowing the seeds. Harvest fruits with skin that is glossy and thin. Eggplants can be harvested when they are small, though growing them longer allows for a larger harvest. Harvestable fruits should be firm and inside seeds should not be visible once cut open.
What is the problem of eggplant in the Philippines?
Eggplant production in the Philippines suffers severe yield losses from insect pests, diseases, and extreme environmental conditions. The most destructive insect pest of eggplant in the Philippines and other Asian countries is the Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer (FSB).
What is the easiest vegetable to grow in the Philippines?
If you would like to have a flourishing patch of land, here are 6 easy-to-grow vegetables to consider.
- Mint. Mint is a fragrant herb that has a cool and fruity taste.
- Onion. Onions are a staple in Filipino cooking.
- Garlic. Did you know that garlic also requires very little care?
- Lettuce.
- Tomatoes.
- Potatoes.
What insects eat eggplant leaves?
Aphids and whiteflies both have piercing, sucking mouthparts used to suck the sap out of eggplant leaves and stems. Both pests are primarily found on the undersides of the leaves. As they feed, they secrete a sticky waste known as honeydew.
How do I keep my eggplant plant healthy?
Choose an area with abundant sunlight and fertile, well-drained soil. Improve native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Keep soil moist but not soggy—soaker hoses are a great option. Keep your plants fed by feeding them regularly with a continuous-release plant food.
Can you plant 2 eggplants together?
apart is fine, although 2 ½ feet (76 cm.) apart will keep you from accidentally breaking branches as you are harvesting your eggplant fruits. If you are planting lots of eggplant and need rows, leave an area 30-36 inches (76-91.5 cm.)
Does eggplant need sun or shade?
full sun
As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day.
Should I prune eggplant leaves?
After the eggplant begins to flower, clip the lower leaflets from the main branch. Removing these leaves boosts air circulation and allows light to penetrate the canopy. Continue to prune away suckers throughout the entire growing season to boost plant vigor and increase food production.
What do you plant after eggplant?
Additional Eggplant Companions
- Peppers, both sweet and hot, make good companion plants, as they have the same growing needs and are susceptible to the same pests and diseases.
- Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions.
- Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.