Chapter 8. Eggplant Production
Eugene J. McAvoy, Nathan S. Boyd, Pamela D. Roberts, Johan Desaeger, Joseph W. Noling, and
Jawwad Qureshi
Botany and Planting
Eggplant, Oriental, Thai, and Indian eggplant - Solanum melongena
Table 8.1. Planting information for eggplant.
Planting dates Eggplant Japanese / Chinese / Indian Eggpalnt Thai Eggplant
North Florida Aug/Feb - Mar Feb - Mar Feb - Mar
Central Florida Aug - Sept/Jan - Feb Aug - Sept; Jan - Feb Aug - Sept; Jan - Feb
South Florida Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb
Planting information
Distance between rows (in) 36 - 72 36 – 72 36 – 72
Distance between plants (in) 18 - 40 18 – 40 36 – 60
Seeding depth (in) 0.5-0.75 0.5 – 0.75 0.5 – 0.75
Seed per acre to seed (lb) 1 0.25 – 0.5 0.25 – 0.5
Seed per acre to transplant (lb) 0.25 - 0.50
Days to maturity from seed 90 - 115
Days to maturity from transplant 70 - 90
Plant population (acre) 9,680 9,680 9,680
Information on “Asian” solanums is included in this chapter. The Asian
solanum group includes three types of eggplant and bird’s eye pepper (Thai
pepper). Pea eggplant, which was discussed in previous editions of the
Handbook, is on the Federal Noxious Weed list, so it has not included in the
current version. The harvestable product includes fruits which are eaten at
the immature or mature stage. All can be grown on raised beds with or without
plastic mulch and using either drip or subsurface irrigation. As with most
eggplants, these types tend to be short-lived perennials, especially the Thai
eggplant which is a relatively compact, stocky plant. They can be severely
pruned or ratooned and allowed to regrow if staking does not prohibit this
operation. Fertilizer recommendations for eggplant should be used for the
three types of eggplant, while those for peppers should be followed for bird’s
eye peppers. These crops can be started from seed or transplants. All the
indeterminate types of eggplant need some type of staking support.
Cultivars
For more information on eggplant variety descriptions and disease resistance
see use the link below:
1. TRADITIONAL TYPES
Classic. Erect, vigorous plant, glossy deep purple-black elongated oval,
green calyxed fruit, medium tall upright plant, fancy fruit appearance. Heavy
yields of high quality fruit. Does not perform well in cooler weather. R to
ToM.
Nadia. Oval long, vigorous plant with good fruit set under cool conditions.
under cool conditions.
Night Shadow. Elongate oval, widely adapted with high yield potential.
right through harvest. R to ToM.
Santana.
black-purple exterior with attractive bright green calyx. Continuous setting.
Triviata. Fruit are half-long in shape, very uniform in size and very attractive
shiny purple in color. Strong growing, well balanced plant.
2. SPECIALTY TYPES
Zebra. Elongated oval, purple with white stripes, very attractive with good
Megal. Italian cylindrical fruit, purple black color, very uniform, excellent
Vitoria. Very long cylindrical, deep purple Imperial type, green calyx, mild
Millionaire. Slender, oriental type, dark purple fruit color, purple calyx,
early maturing.
Italian Pink. Open pollinated cultivar, oval fruit, cream/rose color, mature
fruit color is rose pink, purple calyx.
Birgah
Ghostbuster. Hybrid variety to produces oval shaped white fruit that are
6-7 inches long.
DISEASE KEY: CM = cucumber mosaic, ToM = tomato mosaic, R =
resistant, IR = intermediate resistance, T = tolerant.