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Eggplant
Solanum melongena
A Mediterranean glossy jewel — needs heat, patience and a stake.
Sun
Full sun (8+ hrs)
Water
2.5 cm / week
Soil
Rich, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
60 cm apart
Days to harvest
80–120 days
Hardiness
Zones 5–12 (annual)
Seasonal Calendar
S
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H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Start warm and early
Sow indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost, on a heat mat at 25°C.
- 2
Transplant when hot
Wait until nights stay above 15°C. Cold check ruins the crop.
- 3
Stake and prune
Support with a cane and pinch to 3–4 main stems for larger fruit.
- 4
Harvest glossy
Skin should shine and yield slightly. Dull fruit is over-ripe and bitter.
Common problems
Flea beetle
Cover young plants with mesh. Established plants outgrow damage.
Verticillium wilt
Rotate solanums; use resistant varieties.
Good neighbors
BeanPepperMarigold
Field tips
- “Try slender Asian varieties — they mature faster than fat globe types.”
- “Cut with scissors — the stem is spiny and tough.”