How Do You Direct Sow Eggplant Seeds?

Direct sowing of eggplant

1. Dig ridges 20 inches (50 cm) apart.
2. Place 2 to 3 seeds in the ridges at 20 inch (50 cm) intervals.
3. Cover with light soil.
4. Water regularly.
5. Once sprouted, keep the sprout that is the most vigorous in every seed hole.

How do you prepare eggplant seeds for planting?

Start eggplant seeds indoors up to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Plant the seeds 1/4inch deep, water after planting and cover loosely with plastic to retain moisture. Transplant the seedlings to the garden when soil temperatures reach 60 degrees.

How do you germinate eggplant seeds quickly?

I recommend soaking your seeds in water for up to 24 hours. This can increase the amount of seeds that germinate and how quickly they sprout. Use organic potting soil if you are seed-starting indoors or in small containers to be transplanted outside.

Do eggplant seeds need to be soaked before planting?

Soak the seeds overnight before germinating them.
Eggplant seeds have a better chance of growing if they are soaked thoroughly before planting. Place the seeds in a small container and completely cover them with water. Let the seeds sit overnight, then drain the water.

Can I plant eggplant directly to the soil?

Eggplant seed can be sown directly in the garden if the soil temperature is warm enough—and there are enough days in the season for plants to reach maturity. Seedlings started indoors should be kept under grow lights or in a sunny window after germination.

Should you direct sow eggplant?

When they are planted directly into the soil, they do not require any special seed preparation before planting. Planting the eggplant seed directly into the soil works well and best especially for those who stay in the humid warm region.

What month do you 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 many days does eggplant seeds take to germinate?

7-12 days
Seeds should sprout in 7-12 days. Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Use individual peat or coir pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting.

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.

Do seeds germinate better in the dark?

Most seeds germinate best when they’re placed in the dark. The presence of light, which is crucial to seedling development, may actually stunt the process of germination.

How deep should eggplant be planted?

Although eggplant seeds are tiny, sow the seeds about ¼-inch (6 mm.) deep with good quality potting soil in flats or cell containers. Use a dome or cloche to retain heat as well as humidity to encourage germination when eggplant seed planting indoors.

Do eggplant seeds need light to germinate?

Supplemental light isn’t necessary until the seeds have germinated, but I start it right away. This mimics the ideal growing conditions for eggplants and helps promote bushy, sturdy growth. Twelve to 14 hours of bright light will help prevent the plants from getting leggy. I set my lights 6 inches above the flats.

Can you put seeds straight into soil?

Growing from seeds indoors is one way of starting your garden. Another option is to tuck seeds directly into soil outdoors. Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results.

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.

How many eggplants will one plant produce?

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 is the secret for growing eggplant?

One of the biggest secrets of all for growing eggplant with success is to give it plenty of light. Eggplant is a beautiful plant in the garden, with large foliage and colorful fruit that suspends from above. One of the biggest keys of all to growing eggplant is to give it plenty of sunlight.

How many seeds do you plant in each hole?

three seeds
Don’t exceed three seeds per hole. If more than one germinates, snip off extras at the soil line also. This prevents disturbance of the seedling roots on the one you’ll continue growing out when thinning. Don’t add more than one large seed to a hole.

How often should eggplant be watered?

Eggplants are best watered approximately 1 inch per week during the growing season. This amount may increase during times of hot, dry weather. Monitoring the soil with a moisture meter will help ensure that the soil does not become dry between waterings.

How do you grow an eggplant step by step?

Sow eggplant seed ¼ to ½ inch (12mm) deep spaced 4 to 5 inches (10-12cm) apart. Eggplant seeds germinate in about 5 to 6 days. Give seedlings started indoors 12 hours of light each day; use a grow light or fluorescent lights. Start seeds on a heat mat then grow seedlings on at about 70°F (21°C).

Can I winter sow eggplant?

You can also try frost-sensitive vegetables like Pepper Seeds, Tomato Seeds, Eggplant Seeds, Basil Seeds, Cucumber Seeds, and other warm season vegetable seeds using this winter sowing method, but it is best to do so after the temperatures have warmed up about 4-8 weeks before your last expected frost.

Should you top eggplant plants?

ANSWER: Eggplants, like fellow nightshade family member tomatoes benefit from staking and pruning. In fact, eggplant actually produces more fruit when pruned. Pruning eggplant can also improve the fruit quality of the plant, and decrease the plant’s susceptibility to disease.