Eggplant seed starting8/31/2023 ![]() ![]() Once all the seeds are planted, Ryan covers the trays with a top layer of soil mix and pats it down gently to ensure good contact.Īnd then places the trays along with the others in our commercial-sized Urban Cultivator. (Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds) ‘Calliope’ does well even in cooler climates and is flavorful picked either young or fully mature. (Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds)Īnd here is ‘Calliope’ – a small, oval white-and-purple variegated Indian eggplant. These are attractive, two to four inch long fruits with wonderful flavor and no bitterness. This purple-and-white mini eggplant is called ‘Fairy Tale’. This is a high-yielding black to purple bell variety that is very glossy and uniform, with fruits that are six to seven inches long when mature. (Photo courtesy of Johnny’s Selected Seeds)Īnother traditional looking eggplant is ‘Galine’. ‘Nadia’ produces dark purple fruits that are flavorful, glossy and blemish free. This is a traditional black Italian type called ‘Nadia’. They are tender, delicately flavored, and quick cooking. These plants produce armloads of attractive, slender, and glossy fruits eight to 10-inches long. ‘Orient Express’ is a very dependable eggplant. These grow eight to 10-inches long and range in color from light lavender to bright purple. This is ‘Orient Charm’ – a purple Asian type. ‘Paloma’s’ bell-shaped fruits have distinctive ribbing, a mildly sweet flavor, and a creamy texture. Some of the varieties we are planting this season include ‘Paloma’ with a vivid white skin and clean look. ![]() Here are just a few of the glorious eggplants we harvested last summer. We use two anchoring stakes at each end of the bed and run gardening twine between them for support. We also stake various vegetables to keep fruits off the ground and to reduce the risk of disease. Although eggplants don’t require staking, the fruits will be straighter and easier to harvest if they are staked. Here is one of last year’s eggplant beds – I always dedicate a few beds to these heat-loving plants. This process eliminates the weaker sprout and prevents overcrowding, so seedlings don’t have any competition for soil nutrients or room to mature. One to two seeds are dropped into each compartment and will be selectively thinned in a few weeks. These observations will help organize a schedule for the following year. It’s also a good idea to keep a record of when seeds are sown, when they germinate, and when they are transplanted. Eggplant seeds are small, so be sure to take your time dropping them into the tray cells. Here, the seeds are easier to drop straight from the packet. There are numerous unusual varieties available to those who grow from seed. Once he is ready to drop the seeds, Ryan places a marker into one of the cells, so it is clear what variety is growing in what row of each tray.Įvery year, we plant both favorite varieties as well as ones that are new to us. If you’re not sure, check online or ask garden center associates when the last frost usually occurs in your location. ![]() Seeds are usually started about two months before the last frost in the area. Ryan labels the seed markers and keeps them together with the matching packets. This can be done pretty quickly, even with multiple trays. Next, Ryan creates a quarter-inch deep furrow in the middle of each compartment by pressing a finger gently into each cell. Once all the packets are organized, Ryan determines what order the eggplant seeds will be started in the trays depending on how long it takes each plant to germinate. When starting from seed, it is best to use a pre-made seed starting mix that contains the proper amounts of vermiculite, perlite and peat moss, available at garden supply stores. We seed many plants, so Ryan works in a production line manner in order to get as many trays started as possible.īecause I share a lot of eggplants with my family, we plant several trays and several varieties. The soil should be level with the top of the tray. Ryan fills the seed starting tray with mix and pats it down lightly into each compartment. They come with rounded cells in trays of 24 or 38 each.Įach cell is a couple-inches deep and recommended for a variety of vegetable seeds including our eggplants. Select the right kind of tray based on the size of the seeds. Seed starting trays come in all different sizes and depths. Once they arrive, Ryan sorts them according to type. Every year, I get a wide selection of both flower seeds and vegetable seeds from Johnny’s. Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a privately held, employee-owned organic seed producer in Winslow, Maine. ![]()
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