Eggplant – Black Beauty

Egg Plant Black Beauty (Solanum melongena) – summer veg. Heavy cropping variety bearing large purple pear-shaped fruits.

Can be considered quite high maintenance plant 🙁

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Egg Plant Growing Guide

Sow (when, temp, soil, location)

• sow direct or into seedling trays.  (transplant when about 5-10cm)
• soil: free draining
• full sun
• (grow bags also possible; sunny balcony)
• spacing: 60-75cm apart

 

Harvest/Germination

• germinate: 10-14 days
• harvest: 12-16 wks

 

Care/Watering

• Daily water till established
• regular watering esp dry periods
• STAKE
• feed regularly (liquid)
• mulch
• needs additional nutrition (nitrogen)
• prone to insect attacks

 

Companions

bush beans, chives, herbs, legumes, marigold, peas, peppers, potatoes, spinach, thyme, tomatoes

(NOTE: Mexican marigold will repel beetles from eggplants, but are toxic to beans)

 

Enemies

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Other Notes

• very similar growing needs to tomatoes.  Where tomatoes are happy, so will the egg plants be.
• growing among bush beans protects attacks of the Colorado potato beetle
• herbs are bug repellants to aid eggplants (french tarragon, thymes)
• natural oils in marigold or chives help to deter unwanted pests from eggplant
• ht: 1-2m

 

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Our Egg Plant Progress

Decided to sow them directly into ground.
1st sowing: 5/10/19

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References:

• Companion Plants for Eggplant (gardeningknowhow.com)
• Eggplant Black Beauty (AustralianPlantsOnline.com.au)
• Eggplant Support Ideas (gardeningknowhow.com)

 

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