One of the most cold-sensitive vegetables, the eggplant thrives in warm climates and can be a major producer in home gardens. The classic eggplant has an oversized pear-shape and a deep purple flesh, but home gardeners can find seeds for a wide variety of different shaped and colored eggplants. Give your eggplant crop the best chance at producing a bountiful harvest by starting them indoors 6 to 9 weeks before the last frost.

Are you going to plant eggplant in your garden? According to our research, you can plant eggplant alongside anything!

Eggplant require very warm soil temperatures, with 55 degrees being the minimum soil temperature the plant can withstand. By creating a raised bed in your home garden, soil will warm up faster, creating an inviting environment for your eggplant to thrive. Water daily, making sure that the soil is always moist to the touch. Regularly amend the soil with compost or manure to provide your eggplants with nutrients to grow large fruits. As the eggplant grows, consider placing a tomato cage or similar support around the plant to encourage upward growth and to provide support to fruit-bearing branches.

Once the eggplant’s skin takes on a glossy sheen, the fruits are ready to be harvested. The skin should be soft to the touch, but not mushy. To remove the eggplant from the vine, use a sterilized pair of shears or scissors and snip just about an inch above the top of the eggplant. An eggplant will remain fresh in a refrigerator for about 2 weeks. If you find the seeds inside your eggplant have turned brown when you cut it open, it has matured past its prime, and should be thrown away.