I tried growing eggplant several times in the PNW and it was always a bit of a challenge for me. I never really ended up with much of a harvest and I could never figure out why. Was it me? Was I doing something wrong? Was the weather in the PNW just not warm enough? Were the nights too cool?
Well fast forward to last summer here in New England and it was totally a different story. Not only was I able to grow a boatload of eggplant, but we had so many, I ended up giving most of them away because we couldn’t eat them fast enough.
Apparently eggplants do not like cool weather, so make sure if you are going to plant them in your garden, do it when weather is at least 70 degrees during the day and 60 degrees in the night. If cooler weather heads your way, you’ll need to add a thick layer of mulch. The plants may need some support {bamboo poles or stakes} to stay upright so they don’t topple over.
I planted my eggplant seeds in little Jiffy peat pellet trays two weeks ago {1/4″ deep} and they have already popped through the soil and should have their first set of true leaves in about another week. If you plan to start your seeds indoors, you’ll want to plant the seeds 8-10 weeks before you plan on transplanting them outside. {I’ll most likely get mine in the ground in early to mid June depending on the weather}.
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to being able to harvest some homegrown veggies in the coming months. Oh how I’ve missed playing in the dirt! I do love winter around here, but summer… summer is the best. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend everyone, and happy planting.
~Mavis
Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.
Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!
Have a great weekend everyone,
~Mavis
Fun Fact: Eggplant actually contains nicotine. Not enough to worry about, though, you would have to eat 20-40 lbs of eggplant to equal the nicotine in one cigarette. Interesting!
Mel says
I had some eggplant seeds and meant to plant some this year to try, but I forgot, and it’s probably a little too late here in 7b since the seed packet says to start them 8-12 weeks before last frost. Maybe next year.
I’m looking forward to summer veggies, and I have tomatoes, peppers, and herbs under grow lights right now (for us and three other families), but this has been a stressful start to the garden season. The stakes feel a bit higher since I likely can’t buy starts if these fail (everything is closed or sold out), and two of my grow lights went out this week. The earliest I could get replacement bulbs (they aren’t in stock anywhere near here that is open) is 6 days from now, so I’m really hoping the seedlings make it that long. We’re still very lucky to have vegetables delivered each week through our CSA, but we depend on the tomatoes we grow for pasta sauce, pizza sauce, ketchup, etc. all year and for salads, bruschetta, pasta, etc. all summer, so I really hope they make it.
Mavis Butterfield says
I plan on growing extra winter squash this year, it keeps forever. I feel SO BAD for all the garden shops. Our’s are closed around here but a few are trying the curbside pick up thing. 🙁
Mel says
Yes, I think all our garden shops closed. The farmers market (which sometimes has plants) is still expected to open, but I don’t see how they can avoid crowds. I also imagine there will be a major run on seedlings—most of the seed sites I’ve seen recently have seen a major uptick in business.
Jody says
I grew eggplant last year for the first time and I live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. I had some tall hoops that were given to me and I made a temporary greenhouse over 2 of the hoops. Cut some holes in the plastic and lifted it off on sunny days so the bees could do their thing. Two plants gave us just the right amount of eggplant. It was so rewarding and tasty!
Mavis Butterfield says
Great idea Jody, I am going to tell Mrs. HB. Thank you.
Katherine says
I planted spinach, carrot, arugula and mesclun seeds in late Feb. Last weekend planted sweet pepper, jalapano, and tomato starts along with bush and string bean seeds. I’m in zone 7b. Squash and zucchini will go in the ground in a few more weeks.
Christine Hagen says
We transplanted eggplant, peppers and tomatoes into the garden today. Here in south Georgia our growing season never ends. I actually harvested some new red potatoes today along with cabbage. I am picking asparagus every day. Love this time of year.
It is tough in August and September though. The heat is stifling to the garden. But that is when okra, eggplant, and peppers are growing like crazy.
Robin Martin says
I cannot put eggplant in my ground here in Salem, WV. Last year, gorgeous plants that I started from seeds were about 8 inches tall,covered in leaves, starting to bud.. I decided to very carefully transplant them into the garden. They took the transfer fine even perked up in a few days. Then the wretched flea beetles hit! I fought them for weeks! Neem, soapy water, 7 dust, I tried everything that I could find on Google (and the garden supply man suggestion) we lost all of them. We even had marigolds planted around them.
This year, they stay in pots!!
Dianna says
I’ve only grown eggplant in my earthboxes. They produced so much — I froze dozens of containers of fried eggplant slices for eggplant parmesan. Delicious! Haven’t grown it in a few years since I’m the only one who eats it, though.