Your comments and tips

06 Jan 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)

Plant Feb to May - look on the internet for some varieties.

Reply or Post a new comment

11 Oct 23, TMR (USA - Zone 6b climate)

I know it's over a year later, but I've been looking for info for overwintering a huge eggplant plant, and saw your question here. Summer '22 I picked up three 5" Japanese eggplant plants from local Tractor supply store, on sale in 3 or 4" pots, for $4 each. I grew them in central MA, each in a 12 or 14" pot all summer. Got some good yield, and they grew to about 18" high, but I decided to bring them inside for the winter to see if I could get more fruit from them. I put them on a south facing bay window, air temp was never much above 68*, I watered, fertilized once (maybe 2x) from October-May, and hand pollinated flowers with a paint brush. Got about 10 fruits, which I thought was pretty good! Nice and tender and sweet. In late May/early June they went outside, (after hardened off properly) planted 1 into 2' tall raised wooden garden box (with tomatoes, potatoes, basil, borage), 1 into a large deep pot, and one in a conditioned straw bale. The pot one failed, the box and straw bale one thrived and are now 3' tall and maybe 2-3' wide. Tons of flowers, fruit, I couldn't keep up. I'm trying to figure out if I can bring one of them inside again (transplant into v. large pot) and get one more summer out of it! So you can probably grow Ichyban Japanese in your zone, just protect from cooler temps, and bring inside if your season isn't long enough.

Reply or Post a new comment

08 Jul 22, Bobbi Linn (USA - Zone 8b climate)

I live in zone 8b/9a in Texas, west of San Antonio. Mine die back in winter but come back in spring. I do not remove the dead stalks when they die back, I grow them outside in a raised bed, with plenty of leaf mulch. I trim back the dead stalk after new stalks emerge. Just make sure to water occasionally during winter if it is a dry winter, especially before it drops down below 35 to 40. I begin watering more often as it warms up in spring. The new shoots rise up from the root ball. Then as late spring and summer hit I water regularly. Mine get full sun until about 4 to 5 pm, then are shaded by a nearby tree. So for me, they are like my chile pequins/petins, a perennial..

Reply or Post a new comment

14 Nov 22, Corena Hur (USA - Zone 8b climate)

Thank you, Bobbi, this information is a great encouragement for leaving my eggplant over winter in Austin area.

Reply or Post a new comment

13 Jan 23, Lori (USA - Zone 9a climate)

What varieties of eggplant grows best in 9a?

Reply or Post a new comment

06 Feb 23, Gene (USA - Zone 9b climate)

Eggplant can be grown here in Florida 9b pretty much all year....at least that is what we do. We keep the same plants growing and producing all year. I would avoid the long Japanese varieties though. We have had better luck with the globe-shaped ones. I put the small plants out under some kind of protection, like a milk carton or such, until they get established. When we get the occasional cold and windy weather, mostly in Jan., I cover the plants with a light blanket, and take it off right away when the weather moderates. Otherwise, they just do fine. Bug-wise, I use insecticidal soap spray, or, Bt. The bugs damage some leaves but not the fruits, usually. Good luck.

Reply or Post a new comment

30 Jun 23, Ava (USA - Zone 9b climate)

I live in Texas City and this is my second time growing egg plant. Last year it was unsuccessful due to the heat and planting too late in the season. This year I’m doing really good because I planted my seeds early in the Spring. This is also my first time cooking eggplant. My husband and I are loving them.

Reply or Post a new comment

17 Feb 23, Carol (USA - Zone 9b climate)

My last eggplants from last fall were tough and flavorless but right now I have at least 9! How do I know when they are ripe to pick?

Reply or Post a new comment

20 Feb 23, (USA - Zone 9b climate)

When they reach a good size, pick them. The longer you leave them the tougher and less flavor. Planting to harvest time is a good guide.

Reply or Post a new comment

22 Mar 23, Kim H (USA - Zone 10a climate)

What eggplant grow best in zone 10A? Our nights get pretty chilly through July, although days can be quite warm.

Reply or Post a new comment