30" tall.
Black Beauty eggplants are a popular heirloom variety of eggplant with big yields! The bushy spreading plants grow up to 30″ tall and hold their purplish-black oval fruit well off the ground. This top-notch fruit averages 2 pounds, holds well, and retains good color.
How do you know when Black Beauty eggplants are ripe?
Pick the fruit before the glossy, dark skin begins to fade. (The color and glossiness of the eggplant determine the best time to harvest, rather than the fruit’s size.) Grows beautifully in garden beds or containers.
How long do Black Beauty eggplants take to grow?
Fertilizer: Fertilize with a complete nutrient solution to keep plants dark green and healthy. Days to Maturity: Eggplants are ready to harvest as soon as 70 days after sowing the seeds.
Is Black Beauty eggplant good?
As one of the most popular cultivars, Black Beauty eggplant info abounds. Dating back to the early 1900’s, this variety of open-pollinated and heirloom eggplant has been a favorite for vegetable gardeners throughout decades. When picked at peak maturity, these large glossy fruits offer impressive yields.
Does Black Beauty eggplant need a trellis?
Yes, it’s wise to create a support for eggplants. Staking eggplant keeps the fruit from touching the ground, which in turn, reduces the risk of disease and fosters fruit shape, especially for elongated eggplant varieties.
How many eggplants do you get per plant?
The standard eggplant produces egg-shaped, glossy, purple-black fruit. ‘Black Beauty’ is the traditional eggplant size. One plant produces 4 to 6 large rounded fruit.
What should you not plant next to eggplant?
Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.
What’s a good companion plant for eggplant?
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. Again, be sure not to shade the eggplant. Potatoes and spinach are also said to make great companion plantings too.
Is Black Beauty eggplant bitter?
Your Black Beauty eggplants are tender and flavorful when picked while still young. If they’re allowed to grow to maturity, the skin becomes dull, and the flesh becomes spongy and bitter.
How do I know when my eggplant is ready to pick?
Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible. Learning when to harvest eggplants may require cutting into the fruit to check the color of the flesh and the size of the seeds.
How long do eggplant plants 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.
Can you plant eggplant next to tomatoes?
Nightshades: Other members of the nightshade family, like tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes, make good companions for eggplants because they share similar growing requirements.
How often should eggplant be watered?
Eggplant also needs consistent water, at least 1 inch per week. It is better to give one thorough soaking than several frequent, short waterings, because frequent watering promotes shallow roots. Weather and soil type, of course, will affect water demand.
Do eggplant come back each year?
Although eggplant is a perennial, it is more commonly grown as an annual.
What is the best fertilizer for eggplants?
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.
Is coffee grounds good for eggplants?
What plants like coffee grounds? Like a tomato plant or roses, eggplants thrive in acidic soil, and adding coffee grounds is an easy way to ensure your soil reaches the proper pH.
What animals eat eggplants?
Eggplant leaves are not very palatable and few animals will choose to eat them unless they are really hungry. While groundhogs are on the bottom of the list, they will eat them if hungry. Rabbits and deer are in the same category, but be advised, unless your fence is over four feet high, it will not keep out the deer.
Does eggplant grow well in containers?
Whatever you happen to call it, this delightful berry (we’ll get into this startling fact in a moment!) grows well in a container. So if you don’t have space in your garden, or you live in an urban area and want to add aubergine to your patio container garden, S. melongena is an ideal choice.
Can I grow eggplant in a 5 gallon bucket?
Eggplant
You can place a single plant in a 5 gallon bucket, and this should give it enough space and sufficient nutrients, as long as you feed and water well over the summer months. As with tomatoes, it is a good idea to provide supports for your plants as fruits form and begin to grow.
Can you plant two 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.)
How deep do eggplant roots go?
Keep the root zone moist throughout the growing season. Eggplants roots reach about 2 feet deep and plants should not be subjected to water stress. Stress during the bloom can cause substantial reduction in fruit set. Keep adequate moisture in the deeper soil layers even when plants are small.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.