Vegetables
Are you thinking of growing eggplant in raise garden beds this season ? Using raised bed for eggplant can be effective , but requires a bit of finesse . In this clause , horticulture expert and homesteader Merideth Cohrs walk through her top peak for bountiful eggplant yields from raised beds !
Contents
Eggplant – oraubergineas it ’s called in many share of the humanity – may not be as popular in American garden as the tomato or pepper , but it should be ! The grasp of sizes , shapes , and colors of thisheat - loving vegetableare a will to its popularity in places like India , Japan , and other parts of Southeast Asia . In fact , in Japan , eggplant is the third most important vegetable only after sweet Solanum tuberosum and radish !
The question then becomes how do wegrow eggplantin our home garden ? Do eggplants grow well in a parent bed ? The answer is yes ! But , like acquire any form of veg in raise beds , there are a few tricks of the trade you should get it on about for a truly giving harvest .
So , if you ’ve make up one’s mind to grow eggplant in raised beds this year , you ’ve come to the right stead ! allow ’s take a look at some top tips for asuccessful raised layer mad apple harvestto help you along the manner this season !
Why Eggplant Love Raised Beds
Raised beds can be a gardener ’s best friend in many cases . In general , leaven beds are often more productive than planting straightaway in the terra firma because thesoil is of high quality , it ’s less compress , it has better drain , and it warm earlier in the springtime .
You will also trade with fewer widow’s weeds and soil - pay diseases . erect beds also look really beautiful and can add a dainty touch of landscaping to your yard .
There are many unlike way of build a raise layer in your garden . you could buy pre - made solutions that you put together , build them yourself , or hire someone local to build up a tradition result for your space .
eggplant bush happens to be a vegetable thatdoes really well in raised bed . I have grown them – along with many other vegetables – in raised bed for years with excellent results .
Since I garden in a small space , provoke beds have been a lifesaver for me and have let me to grow and harvest much more than I would have been able-bodied to do in containers alone .
Tips For Growing in Raised Beds
There are many reasons why one would use a raised garden to grow eggplant . A longer growing time of year and idealistic growing condition are just two of them . Now that we know eggplants canbenefit from acquire in raised layer , get ’s find oneself out how to help them thrive in these elevated gardens .
Start With a Quality Raised Bed
There are quite a few options when it comes to raise bed . I have used them placed directly over existing filth as well as elevated wooden beds on my deck . The most significant thoughtfulness is the type of cloth you choose to apply .
Untreated woodis ordinarily the first pick . wood like cedar do exceptionally well because they wo n’t degrade in wet conditions . you may also use galvanized metallic element garden beds that have drainage holes in the bottom .
You want to avoid materials that can percolate toxins into your land . Remember , your Cucumis sativus will uptake whatever is in the soil and water of your bottom . Avoid DIY solutions that call for using railroad ties , treated wood , pallets , concrete block , tire , or any kind of painted Sir Henry Wood . I am all for recycling and upcycling , but in this case , it ’s a bad estimate .
A salutary pattern of ovolo is to not make your raise layer full than 4 foot . One of the benefit of raised beds is loose , well - oxygenise soil . If you step into the layer to hit your mad apple , you will compact the ground around your human foot . You definitely do n’t require this to happen .
Most masses can strain about 2 ’ from either side of a elicit bed , which is why we encourage a 4 ’ maximum width . If you are locate your seam near a fencing , make your layer 2 - 3’for the same reason .
aubergine should beplanted about 18 - 24 inches apartto allow proper growth . This also allows enough airflow between plants so that fungal diseases do not come along . With this spacing , you should be able to turn slew of eggplants in a garden bed that ’s less than 4 foot wide .
Plants have a root system that grow down into the grunge . This solution system can grow many inches , look on the vegetable or plant produce . Most raised layer provide you with enough way for asoil depth of 12 in .
mad apple will do fine in this dirt deepness , but they really thrive with 18 inches of way . If you’re able to make your raised bottom a little deep , your eggplants will give thanks you for it ! This extra place will permit enough room for the roots to grow .
Invest in High Quality Soil
After building your raised bottom , it ’s meter to fulfill it with organically rich , fecund , and well - drainingsoil . To help prepare your raise bed , start with deep , loamy , outdoor pot land . About a calendar month prior to planting , amend that dirt with compost by lightly digging it in .
I screw using my own homemade compost ( I ’m a big proponent of vermiculture ! ) , but you’re able to also use store - buy compost for this . reckon for constituent compost with louse casting for majuscule result .
Eggplants prefer slenderly acidic territory – ideally with a pH between5.8 and 6.5 . It ’s a near mind to prove your soil prior to planting to see where things of course are . If you discover your soil too alkaline , tally a soil acidifier at the same time as your compost .
Choose a Variety You’ll Eat
For most of us , eggplant has always equate to the large purple Alexander Melville Bell - mold fruit in the market storehouse . As a kid , I never had Solanum melongena and certainly did n’t know what to do with it if I had one ! It was n’t until I joined a CSA many years ago that I was exposed to eggplant in a real agency .
I watch all about how to make baba ganoush ( still one of my favorite ways to revel eggplant ! ) , moussaka , and eggplant parmesan . I also tot them to stir - Christopher Fry and dress all summertime long .
If I have a true teemingness in a season , I ’ll dehydrate them and add the eggplant powder to pasta sauce . It adds an awesome profundity of flavor without falsify the nucleus sauce .
Since the sky ’s the limit in the kitchen , allow yourself to have a little fun in your garden as well ! Let ’s take a feeling at themost popular eggplant typesso you may arise a motley that get you excited . If you ’re choosing to produce your plants from seed , you could retrieve exercise of all of these at any on-line seed retailer .
The dandy news program about eggplant is that any of these varieties willthrive in a raised bottom . you simply can not go wrong with whichever character you pick out !
Grow From Seed or Purchase Starts
Since eggplants have a longer growing season than many other summer veg – around 120 daysor longer depending on the variety – you ’ll ask to start your seeds indoors or purchase start from your local nursery or garden center .
Unless you hold out in a very strong clime , sowing seed directly in the ground wo n’t give your plant enough time to mature , heyday , and set fruit .
in person , I maturate all my vegetables from come each class . This allows me to choose germ that I know grow well in my area , have great flavor , and offer heirloom , organic and non - GMO options . I can also be confident that my seedlings are respectable , vigorous , and well hardened off prior to transplanting out of doors in my bed .
Burpee , Baker , and Johnny Seedsare keen place to start appear , but there are a mint of options out there . Be sure to read reviews , and see how other gardeners have fared with the varieties you ’re concerned in . Gardeners are a favorable quite a little and typically want to share information whenever they can . devote care to them especially if you ’re a Modern gardener !
Remember , that certain eggplant varieties produce better in hot arid climate , while others expand anywhere . Either way , project to begin your seeds indoorsapproximately 8 - 12 weeksbefore the last icing datein your area .
I recommend buy vegetable starts from alocal nursery or sodbuster ’s marketover a big - box store whenever possible . seedling there are typically source from local or regional growers , are produce organically , and are well care for .
Often , starts at your local big - boxwood garden center are treated heavily with pesticides and they are ship quite a aloofness from non - organic grower . Some retailers have phased outneonic pesticides(which vote down bees and other pollinators ) , but not all .
disregarding of where you buy your seedlings , take the time and select the sizable single . The plant life should have dark green leave , be well - branched , should n’t be leggy ( entail it ’s too tall for the stem to support it well ) , and should n’t have flowers yet . Avoid works with yellowing leaves , unusual growth figure , and efflorescence .
Plant at the Right Time
aubergine are awarm - season crop , meaning they should n’t be planted while there is any chance of freeze . Like tomatoes and peppers , it ’s better to expect until nighttime temperatures are consistently above 55 degree ( they in reality thrive in soil temps above 70 degrees ) . This will assure that stain temperatures are tender enough to keep your eggplants glad .
The unspoiled news is that the dirt in raised bottom is typically warm than the soil in the ground . This means that you’re able to likely plant your eggplants a little earlier in the time of year . If you do plant early in the time of year , set up a float course covering on your rear bed to keep your young seedling protect .
Floating row screening are improbably wanton to habituate . They ’ll not only keep your eggplants warmer , but they will also protect them from early attack from pests like the dread flea beetle .
Practice Regular Crop Rotation
Even in the menage garden , crop gyration is incredibly important . In a small space , this can be difficult to manage especially if you only have one or two raised bed to work with . But the importance can not be overstated .
sure pests and disease strike members of the nightshade family ( tomatoes , Madagascar pepper , eggplant , etc ) with adequate opportunity . If you plant your Solanum melongena in the same location as your late time of year ’s tomatoes , you ’re at increasedrisk of stain - borne diseaseor overwintering pests .
Ideally , give your territory a twelvemonth off between nightshade planting . If you have multiple bed , planning a childlike harvest revolution should be fine .
If you have a single raised bed , this may be a challenge for you . In this instance , I recommend using a large container to plant your eggplant in the off geezerhood . mad apple do really great in containers as well !
Plant in Full Sun
The amount of fruit your eggplants produce has a lineal correlation with the amount of sun they receive . Eggplants need to be planted in an area that find full sun , meaningat least6 hours of verbatim sun each solar day . Ideally , they ’d like 8 - 10 hours of Lord’s Day for maximal yield production .
If you ’re not certain how much sunlight your blank space receives , take a few days to actively quantify it . Note when the Sunday first reaches a particular domain , if it ’s ever shaded by tall tree diagram or other buildings , and when it leaves for the day .
While your eggplants will be fine with westerly or eastern vulnerability , southern exposure is really the aureate criterion . Southern exposure provide your plants withgentle dawn and early afternoon sunwhile protecting them from the harsh afternoon rays .
Mulch Immediately
Mulch is incredibly important in your garden but is often overtop . Mulch protect against excessive heat , aids moisture retention in the land , prevent water splosh back ( which can circularize fungal disease from the soil ) , and discourages weeds .
In fact , you likely wo n’t have too many issue with sens at all in your raised bed if you mulch well !
you’re able to utilize a lot of things as mulch includingorganic materialyou may have laying around in your yard . husk , wood chips , demolish leaves , and even suppress eggshell can put up the soil that supernumerary layer of protection . The possibility are almost eternal !
Your local nursery or garden center will also have plenty of mulch options available if you do n’t have any already . No matter what case of mulch you choose , aim to go for a stratum 2 - 3 ” thick for maximum benefit .
in person , I hump using coconut tree coir for the raised bed in my veggie garden . I get declamatory blocks of it ahead of time in the season and add it to my bed as I finish up embed .
There are a lot of benefits to using coir including sustainability and renewability ( coir is a natural waste product resulting from treat coco palm ! ) . But for raised bed , there are a few extra perquisite .
Coir mulch deem 30 % more water than similar peat - based mulches . It ingest water easily and enfeeble lento back into the grunge . In elevate beds , this is peculiarly significant since the filth dries out much faster than grease in the primer .
Coir is rich in C and will add nutrient back into the soil as it decomposes .
One of the things you will note with call forth beds is that your soil will pack each time of year . This is instinctive as things reconcile and organic material decomposes . The problem with this is that compacted filth is n’t a great environment for grow root systems . Digging in your coir mulch at the end of the season will actually aid lighten the ground , improve melodic line circulation , and allow for spare movement of nutrients .
Stake Your Eggplant
You may not realize that mad apple need support until their heavy yield set off to mature . A undivided flora grow anywhere from 4 - 20 mature Solanum melongena depending on the variety ( smaller multifariousness produce more fruit than big one ) .
Just like other appendage of the nightshade house like Piper nigrum and tomatoes , your eggplants will produce a higher yield if they are properly fend for .
Tomato cage , stake , or both are commonly used to stake eggplants . It ’s a good idea to set up these at the time of transplanting so the plant ’s root structure is n’t impacted later on .
I typically practice love apple cages and bamboo Pole since I am capable to reuse these item every season . They ’re relatively cheap and cage can really help contain your plant a bit in the raised bed .
Water Regularly
Eggplant fruits have a high water content , so it should n’t be a surprise that the plant life are jolly thirsty . mad apple will prosper when the soil is consistently moist but not soaking wet . reckon of the amount of wetness in a squeezed - out sponge and you ’ll be just about proper .
The best way to determine if your eggplants need water is to dumbfound your digit in the dirt ( below the mulch ) about 2 - 3 inches . If the soil is juiceless , it ’s time to water supply . If it ’s still moist , you may give it another day .
Keep in psyche you will need to irrigate more frequently than if the eggplants were implant in the ground . This is because H2O has more space to enfeeble from .
Most plants do n’t like a deluge of water and eggplants are no different . call up about the difference between taking a nice sip of pee from chalk vs someone opening a fire hydrant for you . In an ideal situation , you may gear up up a drip mould system before constitute . This will deliver pee to your plants in a ordered and manageable way .
If you do n’t have a drip put in , do n’t worry . you’re able to just turn your hose on the scummy setting and just countenance it slowly teem into the soil . It may take a little longer than you want it to , but you ’ll be happy about the end result .
A common mistake with new gardeners is to irrigate the top of the plant rather than the soil underneath . This can actually make a passel of problems with your eggplant including the spread of fungal disease ( do by besotted soil splashing on the undersurface of the lower leaves),powdery mold , leaf burn , and attract plague .
Always aim to easy water the soil either with a drip system of rules or low flow hose . Always prove to irrigate your eggplants in the morning and not during the heat of the day !
Pinch Off Early Flowers
I know it sound counterintuitive , but you ’ll want to squeeze off the first solidifying of flowers when they emerge . In the showtime leg , it ’s significant that the plant use its Department of Energy to produce multiple fruiting branches and leafage beforeturning to bloom and yield yield .
If a young plant prime flowers and sets fruit too early , the issue will be unsatisfying . The gorgeous purple bloom the plants bring about may be the most beautiful of any vegetable in the garden . However , you must hold off to enjoy them until your flora is more mature !
Fertilize Throughout the Season
If you have addedquality compost priorto planting , you wo n’t need to add additional plant food when you transplant your seedlings into the raised bed . If you skip that step ( or forgot ! ) , now is the meter to add a balancedeggplant - friendly fertiliser .
Eggplant , like most fruiting vegetable , needs a particular counterbalance of macronutrients like atomic number 7 , phosphorus , and potassium . They also need micronutrients like magnesium , Ca , and Zn .
Nitrogen promote leafage growth and fruit - producing branches . A fertilizer with too much N will leave in a plant with too many leaves and not enough flower or yield .
Phosphorus is all important for the growth and development of the ancestor system as well as fruit . atomic number 19 helps the works grow speedily and bring out flowers and yield .
Eggplants mayneed more of sure nutrientsat different microscope stage of their life cycle per second . When first planting aubergine , a balanced dumb - release fertilizer is an ideal choice . Once the plant life get through maturity and starts to flower , switch to a fertilizer higher in daystar and potassium ( like a 5 - 10 - 10 ) and give every 2 week .
Check for Pests and Diseases Daily
stir bed are like miniskirt - ecosystems in your garden . The problems experienced will largely depend on what you have planted with your eggplants .
Be disposed to protect against pests likeaphids , beetle , hornworms , and spider mitesif there are other member of the nightshade family planted nearby . Many plague love to feast on nightshade and they can easily migrate from works to plant .
No matter what you determine to plant in your raised bed this season , plant to spend time in your gardeneach dayeven if it ’s only for a small mo .
Take a flavour at your eggplants , check off under the leaves for signs of small cuss , look for mansion of stress or hurt , and always be on the observation tower for big publication like bacterial leaf wilt that can destroy your plant and migrate to the next .
Flea beetles , which chew many many many flyspeck holes in leaves , are by far the biggest pest terror to your eggplants . I have experienced these lilliputian incense pests every year I have planted eggplant , but there are way you may help protect your plants !
Going back to one of my early tip , don’t plant your seedling outdoors too early . When plants are roughly a foundation or more off the solid ground , flea mallet seem to have a hard time finding them .
When they ’re small , however , the seedlings seem to attract the beetles like attracter . Alternatively , you’re able to keep your new plants covered with row covers until they are tall enough to confound the flea mallet ( this is your secure defense ! ) .
If you do receive yourself dealing with an plague , you may seek to dust the area with diatomaceous dry land . Be very careful with this , however , as it can dissemble pollinators as well . I choose not to use this particular jam once I see pollinators in my garden .
Another option is touse unenviable tapeline or paperand place this around your new eggplants . Flea beetle hop around ( they ’re not easy to get disembarrass of like aphid ) and some may get caught on the newspaper as they attempt to hop up to the leaf .
Help Pollinate Flowers
While eggplants are ego - pollinate , you could help the process along tomaximize fruit yield . This will be particularly important if you go on to utilize row or floating cover on your raised bed for pestilence prevention .
It may seem giddy at first , but all you have to do is gently rock your plant or tapdance flowering branches to help move the pollen . If you have done a expert job attracting pollinator to the space , they can help too , but only if the industrial plant are uncover .
gamy temperature and high humidness can all have anegative impact on the pollination process . humidness can cause pollen to become sticky and forbid it from falling off the flowers . In dry regions , the pollen can actually dry out out and give out to stick around to the distaff parts of the flower . By helping the plant ego - pollinate , you ’ll improve your aubergine yield this time of year !
Utilize Companion Plants
Companion planting is an incredible manner to maximize a modest space . So even if you only have admittance to one or two raised bed this year , you’re able to accommodate a lot in there ! Let ’s talk about the best redolent herbs , veggies , and flowers tocompanion plant with your eggplant .
heyday are fabulously important to promote pollinator to check out your eggplants . Even though eggplants are self - pollinate , natural pollinator really increase the efficiency of the mental process . blossom also do a expectant Book of Job ofattracting predatory insectsthat would love to help you out with any pest problems you may get .
Planting flowers innate to your area can really help this as well . But if you ’re looking for some tried and true and true flush benefactor , check over out marigold and nasturtium .
Gallic marigolds especiallyact as a trap plantand will attract pest like whiteflies and aphids out from your eggplants . You ’ll require to implant these several weeks ahead of your eggplant bush for them to be big enough to make a difference .
Nasturtiumsattract pollinators , predatory insects , and act as a snare plant specifically for aphid . Trailing nasturtium will also dissemble as a terrific primer coat cover to help protect against green goddess .
Most fragrant herb – Eucalyptus amygdalina , dill weed , oregano , Petroselinum crispum – help deter pests from your aubergine . Since distance is at a insurance premium in raised bed , I recommend choosing only one or two of these to plant nearby . Here are some options .
This is one of my all clock time favorite companion plants . However , it ’s not often find at local greenhouse ( I have to set up seeds ) . Borage is a flowering herbaceous plant that pollinators and predatory insects swarm to . This will go a long way toward both natural pest control and born pollenation once your cucumber flowers start to bloom . Borage can get kind of large if left unchecked , so just keep an eye on it as it grows .
Another one of my favorites , the sulfur compound deter aphid and come in back yr after year . These are also a groovy summation to cooking whenever a light onion plant flavor is call for .
This is a unassailable smelling herb with an established repute for repelling pestilence . Keep in idea that you will need to edit out back your wild marjoram in a parent layer since the plant is a tight growing perennial .
heap like peppermint or spearmint can be a not bad help in deterring the hated flea beetle . Mint is an incursive herbaceous plant , however , so if you plant it in your lift beds , be prepared to to a great extent prune it back as it spread .
pea , beans , and lentils all contribute critical nitrogen to your raised bed . This directly benefits nearby plant – especially heavy - eat mad apple – by providing them with vital nutrient .
Legumes have a symbiotic relationship with certain dirt - dwelling bacterium . The bacteria take nitrogen from the air in the soil and feed it to the roots of the legume . In exchange , the plant provide carbohydrates to the bacteria .
Any of the nitrogen not used by the legume is released into the nearby soil through the etymon . This is how legumes ‘ reparation ’ atomic number 7 in the soil .
Heat tolerantspinach and lettucescan be skilful fellow traveler to eggplant as well . Leafy green will have a chance to develop in the summer if they are kept in umbrageous , cooler condition . In return , they play as dry land cover around your eggplants , which will keep weeds away .
Kohlrabi is actually a moderately great comrade veggie as well and one that is really fun and easy to grow . Kohlrabi can help deter pests like aphid and flea beetle .
Some gardeners wish to constitute other nightshades – tomatoes , peppers , andpotatoes – in the same area since they all have the same growing needs .
you may for certain do this , but beextra wakeful with pest ascendence . Most pests like aphid , flea beetle , and spider speck can easily skip between plant and soon your entire bed will be infested .
Harvest and Enjoy!
Now that you ’ve done all the thing to aid your eggplant grow and thrive in your raise beds , it ’s prison term to harvest ! This part is easy compared to the rest period of the work put into growing these yummy veg .
Pick your eggplants when theskin takes on a high glossy shine . you may also test the pelt to see if the yield is ripe . Press the peel with your finger . If the pitting does n’t immediately spring back , that fruit is quick for harvest ! If it does spring back quickly , give it a few more day to mature .
The great thing about using a call forth bed is that harvesting your eggplant is a snap ! Simply nip off the fruit off the plant with pruning shears , keeping the hood and about an inch of stem intact .
Personally , I love piece aubergine when they are on the untried side – about ⅔ of their mature sizing . This ensures a lovely grain and sweetness that can sometimes be lose in overly ripe fruit . However , the best fourth dimension to harvest is up to you and how you prefer to eat them !
Final Thoughts
You are now well disposed to successfully engraft , raise , andharvest eggplant out of your enhance bedthis season . These democratic vegetables are the garden gift that keep on have each time of year ! Enjoy those beautiful royal veggies and all the unbelievable dish you could create with your homegrown eggplant .
