Best Conditions for Growing Eggplants
Before planting your eggplant seedlings in your garden, make sure that it’s past any chance of frost. Eggplants grow well with the following conditions:
- Temperature is from 70°F (21°C) to 85°F (29°C)
- Full sun most of the day
- Well-drained soil
- Enough room for your full-grown eggplants
- Soil with a a pH of 5.8 to 6.5
You can add manure or organic fertilizer to your soil for added nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Once you have these necessary conditions, you can begin planting.
How Much Distance Between Eggplant Rows
When planning your garden, allow 30 to 36 inches between rows of eggplant seedlings. This may seem like a lot of space, but your eggplants grow quickly, and will soon fill in that space. You want to make sure there’s enough room to allow the sun to reach all the plants, and for air circulation around all the foliage.
How Much Space Between Eggplant Plants
Before planting your eggplant seedlings in your garden, make sure they’re about 6 to 8 inches tall, and the soil temperature is at least 60°F (15°C). Planting in raised beds can help the soil remain warm enough for the eggplants, if you live in a cool climate. Eggplants are very susceptible to cool temperatures, especially seedlings.
You can apply plastic or organic mulch around the transplants to hold in the heat, if the soil is cool. Once your soil is warm, place your eggplant seedlings at a planting distance of 18 to 24 inches apart.
Care and Maintenance of Eggplants
Once you have your eggplant seedlings planted at the optimum spacing and distance, ongoing maintenance will give you a successful eggplant crop. Eggplants need regularwatering that reaches 6 inches into the soil, especially during fruit development. Spreading mulch in your garden helps the soil remain moist, so you don’t have to water as often. Along with watering, pruning your eggplants increases fruit production and helps prevent disease and pest infestation.
