Greenhouse Eggplants - Key Growing Information

Greenhouse eggplants, grown in containers and trellised in our greenhouse trials.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Solanum melongena
CULTURE: Sow in flats or plugs 6-8 weeks prior to transplanting. Maintain an even 80-90°F (27-32°C) soil temp. until emergence, 70°F (21°C) thereafter. After true leaves form, transplant into cell-type containers or blocks. 4" blocks are the standard. After transplanting, maintain temp. 66-72°F (18-19°C) days and 64-66°F (19-22°C) nights. Fertilize with a complete nutrient solution (EC 2.5-3.5, pH 5.5) or equivalent as needed to keep plants dark green and healthy. Transplant to the greenhouse when plants are 10-12" tall. Space plants 1' apart in rows 2' wide, with 3' between rows. Grow plants with 2-4 stems per plant, resulting in a density of 5-8 stems per square meter (9 sq.ft.).
HARVEST: Harvest fruit at desired size, most commonly 1/2 lb. for baby eggplant and 1/4 lb. for mini eggplant.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From transplanting.
TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 900 plants/1,000 seeds.
PACKET: 25 seeds.
MINI: 10 seeds.