Keep Your Eggplants Growing Longer

A few years back, I decided to plant an enormous organic garden. This took a lot of work and preparation. Planting salad, cucumbers, and tomatoes weren't so difficult. However, planting tomatoes in large quantities took a bit of time to understand the best way to string them up and keep them off the ground.

At this time I considered eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini as specialty plants. The reason being is our climate and rain seasons. Here on the islands we can grow food year round. However, broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini can only be planted at the end of April and harvested in June. Otherwise, the plants don't do well in the heat and rain season.

I had never planted eggplants before. In March when I was buying the seeds for the organic garden, I chose a package of Black Beauty eggplant seeds. I started the seeds in starter trays. The seeds, sprouted easily and grew quickly.

The eggplants grew quickly once I had them in the ground. Within a month I had flowers on the plants. I had plenty of eggplants for my customers and to eat. However, when the plants flowered the second time the eggplants weren't the same. This time, many of the plants produced a yellow eggplant instead of the deep purple eggplant. Furthermore, some of my plants didn't produce any more flowers.

I tried to search on the Internet to see what the problem was. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the answer. In most places the plants will die off at the end of summer. Here in Tahiti the plants continue to grow and produce eggplants. Therefore, I started to experiment with the plants I had. Currently, I have over 50 eggplants that have produced food for the past four years. Some of my plants are over 5 feet tall and have started to grow into trees.

Follow these simple tips to keep your eggplants growing year round and producing food.

1. Cut the eggplant stems as close the branch as you can. Don't cut the stem in the middle and leave part of the stem on the plant.

2. Use a pair of sharp pruning shears to cut the eggplants.

3. If one of the eggplants falls off the plant immediately cut the stem.

4. Never try to twist or break the eggplant off the plant.

5. Once the plant has finished producing eggplants and before the next flowers start to set on the plant trim the plant. This means cutting the plant way back. Make sure you cut all the lower branches off the plant. I found that cutting the plant way back will produce a second crop of beautiful, large eggplants.

6. Every four months I cut the eggplant way down. I remove all the leaves from the plant and only leave the branches. I also cut all the smaller branches off the plant.

7. When you first plant the eggplants in the ground you'll need to plant them rather deep. Otherwise, when the plants start to grow the roots will start to grow on top of the ground.

8. Dig a long trench next to the row of eggplants. Lay the hose in the trench and slowly soak your ground. Don't water the plants directly. This method makes a strong root system and helps the plant grow and produce flowers.

9. If your plant produces a yellow eggplant, remove it immediately. Afterwards, trim back the plant. Trim off all the flowers on the plant and some of the smaller branches.