DrupalWomenQ-#8818

Eggplants have been hard to grow in my soil.Do you have any tips?

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0 Answers

  1. Cheryl Wait wrote on :

    Hi! Like Shirley asked below, what type of soil do you have? Eggplants like a PH between 6.0 and 7.0. They are a warm season crop, and they do best on free draining loose soil or a sandy loam. However they can be grown on many soil types. If you have a heavy clay/compacted soil like I do, you need to break up the soil to 24 inches deep, and add lots of compost. This will allow the root system to develop and also feed the plant, not to mention improve your soil. Don’t try to grow eggplant where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, or eggplant grew the year before. They are all of the Nightshade family and susceptible to the same diseases. You can buy an inexpensive ph/soil test kit at your local garden center, or you can pick one up at your local county/bourough extension office. The answers you get from this test can greatly shorten the process of getting the correct soil for different areas of the garden. If drainage is a real problem in your area, you might want to consider large containers or raised beds. Remember, these plants are very susceptible to frost also. I agree with Shirley that containers may be the way to go. I think that would work well for you. Hope this helped. Good luck!

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    • gshep wrote on :

      I will try the pots and I will also pick another location in my garden. Ky soil is a mix. We are on the top of a hill that has flat land and plenty of room for several gardens ,but the wind can be fierce and the weather has been really hot and dry in the summer. I water with rain water that we collect and the plants love it. On a good note, I was the only one of our friends that had an abundance of tomatoes and peppers last year.I did not have the eggplants in the same location as the tomatoes and peppers. My herb garden grows beautifully and if any of you have not tried growing herbs give it a try. I use large pots and also have a section in the garden that comes back every year. I really enjoy them. I appreciate your advice.

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  2. Shirley Farley wrote on :

    Hi Gshep…What kind of soil do you have. Eggplants are in the same family as tomatoes and peppers. They prefer rich, well drained soil and consistent moisture. You might try growing them in containers with lots of compost and some organic fertilizer added to the pot. The plant is attractive and can add some fun to a patio or deck. If you will describe your soil I can give you a more specific answer to what you might add to your native garden soil. Keep gardening!

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    • gshep wrote on :

      Thanks for the info. I had been thinking of growing a few in large pots, so now I will definitely try it. My soil has clay ,but is mixed with compost and other dirt that we have bought. We mulched straw around each plant last year and that helped , but I have had to baby them. Thanks again.

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    • Shirley Farley wrote on :

      I’ve grown in everything from pure sand to hard packed clay and clay is definitely the toughest. Pots are the simplest solution but in future you might try adding perlite to your garden. It is an inorganic substance that increases the permeability of clay soils but does not increase water retention (like vermiculite) so does not impede drainage. Perlite improves the structure of the soil but not fertility so you still need lots of organic matter and compost. Right now I’m gardening on what amounts to solid limestone so resorted to raised beds filled with compost….that would also work for clay but is a work-intensive project in the beginning. After it gets up and growing it becomes almost work-free. Have fun and enjoy those eggplants.

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