For those of you who love gardening, it must be rewarding to see your plants produce edible food like fruit and veggies. The more you enjoy gardening; the more challenges await you.
Trying out new challenges can also sharpen your gardening skills. And this time, we are going to learn how to grow eggplants from seeds!
Maintaining a warm condition for plants that don’t thrive in cold weather can be challenging. If you are a gardener who likes to try all kinds of plants to improve your gardening skill, you can start by growing summer plants like eggplants.
You can grow eggplants from seeds, eggplant cuts, or simply by transplanting the nursery plant. However, it is best to grow eggplant from seeds when you want to learn and understand the basics.
Growing eggplant from seed can be more challenging than transplanting the nursery plant to your garden, but it will also be more fun! And here are all the things that you need to know about how to grow eggplants from seeds at home!
How to Get Eggplant Seeds?
You can simply get eggplant seeds from a local gardening shop, or you can also get the seeds by collecting them from the actual eggplant. Collecting the seeds from overripe eggplant takes some extra work, but it will be worth it when you want to plant more eggplants in the future.
Before collecting the seeds, you should pay attention to the appearance of overripe eggplant. Take a look at an eggplant that looks dull and shriveled, as well as the texture is harder than the regular eggplant.
Then slice the eggplants to separate the seeds from the flesh. Wash the seeds and place them on a dry surface. Make sure each seed is dry before you store them.
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How to Germinate Eggplant Seed Faster?
Germination is a crucial stage of eggplant growth. Start by placing the seeds in a container filled with the germination mix, and it will germinate in about one to two weeks.
This process can be done at home, and even recommended to do it indoors. Not only can we see the seed regularly to ensure their condition, but it will also be safer to protect the seeds from any unwanted outside factors that can inhibit germination. Winds and cold temperatures during the night are problematic during this step.
Eggplant is warm-seasonal veggies, so the key to germinating them faster is to do it in warm conditions. The temperature should be around 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Placing the container on a heat mat and covering it with plastic wrap can keep the warm temperature more stable, and the seeds will germinate faster. Remember to check the plastic wrap regularly and uncover it when the eggplant sprout appears to be growing.
How to Plant Eggplant Step by Step?
Planting eggplant may seem challenging, but it’s actually easy as long as you do things at the right time and conditions. The important steps for growing eggplant are decided by the timing, the planting site, and the spaces.
Warm-seasonal vegetables like eggplant should be planted during spring. The season supplies the perfect warmth for the plants to grow well. It’s not recommended to plant eggplant during the cold season, as you may not get the best eggplant.
Eggplant planting seeds need to be in a sunny spot and soil with good drainage. When planting the plants, ensure the seeds are covered by soil at least ¼ inch in depth.
It’s recommended to place the plant in an individual container so that each plant can grow well without disturbing the other.
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How to Grow Eggplants from Seeds at Home?
Eggplants don’t survive well in cold temperatures. Growing the plant from seed at home is actually a recommended method, as a stable indoor temperature will keep the plant warm and grow well. Growing eggplants at home can be done by using container gardening methods.
It’s important to understand the eggplant growth process to determine the right steps to grow the plant. The eggplant’s growth phase starts from seed germination. Then, the leaf and flower growth until the plant produces fruit.
Each growth phase has different needs, including:
- Germinate the seed in a warm germination mix for 1 to 2 weeks. This phase needs to be done indoors because the medium should be warm and well drained.
- Let the sprout grow until it reaches 4 to 6 inches tall. Place the plant in a warm place that gets direct sunlight but is still protected, such as near a window or a balcony.
- After 8 to 9 weeks of planting from seed, the plant needs to get full sun for about 6 to 7 hours a day. Make sure to keep the soil well drained and protect the plant from cold temperatures. You may need a stake to support the plant as they grow bigger.
Those are three simple steps you need to take to grow eggplant at home. If you properly take care of the plant’s needs, they will surely grow well. Seeing the beautiful eggplant flowers while they’re growing can be very exciting.
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Eggplant from Seed to Harvest
Growing an eggplant from seeds to harvest will take 100 to 120 days. Eggplant is usually harvested during mid to late summer. Eggplants are best harvested when they start to ripen.
When harvesting, look for eggplant that looks shiny and unwrinkled. It shows that the eggplant is ready to harvest. When cutting the fruit’s stem from the plant, use a sharp knife or pruning shears and give the stems about an inch from the eggplant.
Once harvested, you can store the eggplants in the refrigerator for about a week. Eggplant can also be eaten right away but don’t forget to wash it first.
Being able to grow your own food from scratch is one of the advantages of having a garden at home. In addition to reducing your expenses, it can also sharpen your gardening skills. Gardening is not only practical and productive. It can also put your mind at ease by seeing the flowers.
Eggplants are one of the veggies that have a beautiful color, and the flowers are beautiful too. Growing eggplants in your garden will not only enhance your gardening experience, but it will also make your garden more colorful and cheerful.