Richard Rollinson
Last week, I commented on how the eggplant seedlings looked like they had a problem and were dying back. At that point I replanted another batch of seeds. Seven days later I can report that the new plantings have begun to germinate AND there is new growth coming on the damaged seedlings in the greenhouse. Now we've got a race going on and a chance to do some side-by-side comparisons as the season goes on. It's early days yet.
#gardening
#allotment
#zone6b
#NewEngland
8:44pmWeb
Show threadJennifer16h ago

@richrollgardener

I thought it was too late to start eggplants from seed in zone 6 (New England). Would it be worth my trying to start some tonight?

Show threadRichard Rollinson16h ago
@jennifer YES! I don't plant mine out in the garden until almost June, so there's still time. They like the heat, anyway.
Show threadJennifer15h ago

@richrollgardener

Thank you! I'll give it a try. Any special care or tips?

Last time I tried growing eggplant was over 8 years ago in a zone 7 but the fruit was really small.

Show threadRichard Rollinson15h ago
@jennifer I actually prefer picking the fruit while it's still rather small. Those who cook with it say it's better small. The only trouble I have is they attract flea beetles that I have to knock off every once-in-a-while with a blast from a garden hose. Otherwise, just mulch and keep watered.
Show threadJennifer14h ago

@richrollgardener

Nice! I am hoping to make eggplant parmesan with any produce I get.

Show threadAO Smith14h ago
@jennifer @richrollgardener
It may or may not be helpful, but we now exclusively grow Millionaire eggplants as we've had little success with other varieties (we are west coast, relatively short season for hot weather plants). It is an early maturity Asian variety, super prolific, and the fruits can still get large enough for things like eggplant parmesan while still being versatile for grilling or processing for baba ganoush, etc
Show threadJennifer12h ago

@aosmith16 @richrollgardener

Ooooh, thank you! Fast growing, versatile plants are my style. I'll look for millionaire seeds!

Show threadDon Ray16h ago

@richrollgardener

Eggplants must have the knack of developing emergency (adventitious) buds. I had a transplant in the garden last year that got nipped by a rabbit so that there was just a small stem sticking out the ground. That plant found a way to form new leaves.

Show threadBroadfork15h ago

@richrollgardener My (imaginary) money is on the second batch of seedlings becoming the better plants.

Do you think it was an unintentional over watering issue then?

Show threadRichard Rollinson15h ago
@Broadfork I agree. I don't think the first batch will ever produce much, but we'll find out. Overwatering is my best guess as to what happened. It was on the top shelf of the grow light setup & I'm not tall enough to look in there properly. New batch is down where I can see it and will go out to the greenhouse much sooner than the first batch dd. I've had trouble with eggplant before. Let them get pot-bound one year & had almost no produce from them. Good thing I don't really like eggplant!
Show threadBroadfork15h ago

@richrollgardener I don’t find them very versatile to cook with and I don’t have the greenhouse space now anyway but I was never very successful with growing them.

It’s a good little comparison to do though.

Show threadRichard Rollinson15h ago
@Broadfork I only grow them because the neighbors seem to like them.
Show threadVirginicus13h ago
@richrollgardener Peer pressure works. 😀
Show threadDagnabbit, Pascaline! 💥12h ago

@Virginicus

The best response, made me smile 😊

@richrollgardener