#61680
April 19th, 2006 at 09:59 PM
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So I impulsively bought an eggplant yesterday at walmart, it was a really nice healthy looking plant, got it home and realized I have no clue how to grow it. I looked on the web, but you guys give better advise. Anyone have experience with these? Thanks!
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#61681
April 19th, 2006 at 10:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Ciao Claire, LOL! How cute are you! Ah, the excitement of buying a plant impulsively and then figuring out how to take care of it. I've never done that before.... Eggplants are a bit like tomatoes - they're actually in the same family. They like WARM weather, so keep them inside until your nights are in the '60's or they'll just sit in your garden and pout. They won't die unless it gets really chilly, but they won't grow either if it's too cold. Water them from below (put a tray under them) when the soil dries out (stick your finger in it down an inch and water if it's dry). When it's warm enough to plant out, plant them 1' apart and bury the stem up to the seed leaves (cotyledons). They won't form roots up the stem like tomatoes will, but the extra soil around the stem gives them more support. Give them 3' stakes or wimpy tomato cages in case of winds and that's all you do. Buona fortuna, Julianna
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#61682
April 20th, 2006 at 07:14 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Thanks Julianna! I have done most of my gardening this way, buy and then figure it out Luckily most of my stuff has survived. Thanks for the great advise, and its already warm at night here so I think I'll put it right in the ground and see what happens. Take care!
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#61683
April 20th, 2006 at 11:05 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Watch out for flea beetles! They love eggplants!!! They'll make tons of tiny holes in the leaves, eventually virtually defoliating the plants. You can keep them off with row covers, or spray to kill them with an organic spray like rotenone or pyrethrins. I love eggplant parmesan!
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#61684
April 20th, 2006 at 07:58 PM
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Hi Claire, I've had pretty good results growing eggplants in containers. I agree with Julianna, I have grown them next to cherry tomatoes and they seem do well in the same conditions. The summers here get pretty hot, so frequent watering and plenty of sun worked for me last year. Eggplants are amazing grilled in olive oil, so let us know how they turn out. Shawn
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#61685
April 30th, 2006 at 03:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I just bought a eggplant plant-I planted it in a pot in the best sunniest area. It has the prettiest flowers. I've never had one and never tasted eggplant, so this will be fun. Shawn, that sounds good, in olive oil !
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#61686
April 30th, 2006 at 05:17 PM
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Ciao Deborah, You might just get one at your grocery to try before the one you planted is ripe so you know what you're in for. Pick one out that resembles the one you're growing in size and shape, colour doesn't have much to do with eggplant flavour, unlike that of tomatoes. Too cute. You must be an ornamental grower eh? Julianna
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#61687
April 30th, 2006 at 05:38 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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What's an ornamental grower? You know, there was no tag on the eggplant, so it will be fun to see what kind the plant produces. Because it comes from a local nursery it is probably the standard one we see in the grocery store, not one of the specialty types.
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#61688
April 30th, 2006 at 05:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Deborah. I usually cut the eggplant into slices, grill with olive oil, and use on pizza or salads. I've never grown only one, so I don't know if it is self pollinating or not. It does have some really nice flowers. Shawn
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#61689
May 1st, 2006 at 09:14 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I hope I get at least one eggplant, it'd be fun. Do you peel it before slicing?
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#61690
May 1st, 2006 at 11:00 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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I hope your eggplant does well. I had just one plant last year ( my first) and harvested at least a dozen smallish eggplants, cooked most on the grill with zucchini and vidalia onions Yummm I can hardly wait. I was still getting fruit from this plant at the first hard frost. They look cool growing too.
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#61691
May 1st, 2006 at 02:15 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Thanks, lakegran, I hope to get as many as you did ! The grilling does sound good, and zucchini-love it ! Name the veggie, I love it !
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#61692
May 1st, 2006 at 04:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
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Hi All, I'm like many of you, but the only thing I did was buy the eggplant seeds and let them germinate in the house. A few weeks ago I transplanted them in my greenhouse and they're growing beautifully. I don't even know what they look like,
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#61693
May 2nd, 2006 at 03:15 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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i love egg plant too. try just slicing it about one quarter inch thick and rolling it in flour. you can add garlic powder before you put in flour also salt and black pepper just fry in skillet until brown their great.
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#61694
May 2nd, 2006 at 10:59 AM
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Make some Eggplant parmesean...best way to eat them! You can bake the eggplant instead of frying the slices, if you are trying to cut down on the fat. Do not let the eggplant get overbig, they tend to get bitter. If the seeds look dark when you cut them, its probably gonna taste bitter. Let it develop full color (on black ones), and pick it while its still shiney. Picking will keep the plant productive- leaving them on will slow it down!
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#61695
May 3rd, 2006 at 03:28 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
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Has anyone else read what I have, that eggplant has NO nutrients AT ALL? I wish I could remember where I read that. Or maybe it was on Food Network. The Good Eats show, I think.
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#61696
May 30th, 2006 at 03:11 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
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I'm also on my first eggplant plant. It has one eggplant on it so far, but it keeps blooming. It's a "black beauty" variety, so I guess I better not pick it yet. It's a really nice purple, but not dark enough to be black.
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#61697
May 30th, 2006 at 09:05 AM
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great cooking ideas guys! i like "pizza" style eggplant, where I slice them, then put fresh tomatoes and motzerella on top - seasoned with some herbs from the garden of course I have one flower on my plant, I have been battling powedery mildew stuff all season, so the leaves look pretty pathetic, but hopefully something will come of it. Good luck everyone !
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