Eggplants (Solanum melongena) are a versatile and visually striking addition to any garden. While they may seem exotic, growing eggplants can be simple and rewarding. Whether for raised beds, containers, or sunny vegetable gardens, eggplant varieties like Rosa Bianca, Twilight Hybrid, and Ophelia Hybrid offer high yields, beautiful colors, and excellent flavor.
Why Grow Eggplants?
Eggplants are an ideal crop for gardeners who want something unique and productive. They thrive in warm weather, are perfect for small spaces, and offer countless culinary uses. From roasting and grilling to baking in dishes like Eggplant Parmesan or Baba Ghanoush, this vegetable adds rich texture and flavor to meals.
Tips for Growing Eggplant
Eggplants perform best when given the right conditions. Here are a few steps to ensure success:
- Planting from Seed or Starts: For gardeners starting from seed, begin indoors 6 to 9 weeks before the final frost date. Alternatively, purchase established eggplant seedlings and transplant them after the last frost when the soil is warm.
- Ideal Growing Conditions: Eggplants need full sun and well-drained soil to thrive. Raised beds and containers are excellent options because they warm up quickly in spring, providing optimal growing temperatures.
- Soil and Feeding: Mulch around the base of eggplant plants to retain moisture and keep roots cool. Additionally, supplement with balanced fertilizer like our Tomatoes Alive! Fertilizer or vegetable food to encourage strong growth and fruit production.
- Support Systems: Taller varieties may benefit from plant supports to keep plants upright as they grow.
Eggplants can also serve as statement plants in containers or along garden edges, thanks to their tall, leafy structure and beautiful flowers.
Top Eggplant Varieties to Grow
Here are three standout eggplant varieties that we recommend growing in your garden:
- Midnight Queen Hybrid Eggplant: Midnight Queen, with its glossy purple-black skin, produces delicious fruits that do not turn bitter. These easy-to-grow eggplants feature meaty, white flesh that does not turn brown when cut. This is one of the best eggplants for the home garden and can only be found at Gurney’s.
- Black Beauty Eggplant: Black Beauty is an heirloom variety that produces high yields of fruits up to 2 lbs. each. This variety bears purple-black eggplants that are delicious when grilled, baked, or added to Asian dishes and stir-fries. If you’ve always wanted to grow eggplants in the South, Black Beauty is great for southeastern climates and also does well in Texas.
- Casper Eggplant: The Casper Eggplant is the best tasting white eggplant. It produces 5-7 inch fruits that are milder in taste compared to other eggplant varieties. No peeling is required if eaten small, and you can eat them raw.
Eggplant Gardening Made Easy
Growing eggplants is simpler than it seems, and they reward gardeners with beauty and flavor. They can thrive in any sunny garden or container and require minimal maintenance beyond warmth, water, and occasional feeding.
