How can I accelerate eggplant growth?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Temperature management and timing of nutritional applications play a key role in speeding up eggplant growth. These heat-loving plants respond dramatically to the right conditions. With a few key techniques, you can garden to reduce the time it takes to harvest by 2 to 3 weeks. My earliest harvest came from relying on black plastic mulch combined with a weekly application of fish emulsion.
Soil Warming
- Install black plastic mulch 2 weeks before planting
- Use cloches or row covers for nighttime protection
- Maintain 70-85°F root zone temperature consistently
Nutrient Boosting
- Apply 5-10-10 fertilizer at flowering onset
- Supplement with liquid seaweed every 14 days
- Side dress compost when fruits reach golf ball size
Strategic Pruning
- Pinch first 3-4 flower buds to strengthen roots
- Remove lower leaves touching soil weekly
- Limit main stems to 3 per plant for focused energy
Keep the ground warm. You will find that plants grow rapidly ifyou keep a warm temperature at the roots. Keep a soil thermometer in the sowing and root room. Water the ground with warm water, not cold water. All this helps in absorbing atmospheric heat, and it stimulates the roots to vigorous action: my plants grew 30 per cent. quicker after these little plans were adopted.
Time nutrient applications. Start applying as soon as you transplant. Begin with general-purpose formulas. The instant they flower, switch to high phosphorus - early morning foliar feeds yield maximum uptake. Overfeeding, which leads to loads of luxuriant foliage but no results.
Choose a growth-prune method wisely. Pinch off early flowers so the plant can concentrate on rooting. If you see suckers below the first flower cluster, remove them. This encourages the plant to root more effectively and develop thicker stems, which helps support heavy fruit loads. You will achieve 20% higher yields when pruning is done properly.
Utilize methods for optimum speed. Start seedlings in a warm environment with heat mats. Move them into the field underneath plastic mulch after they have hardened off. Start drip irrigation underneath mulch. This synergistic approach will yield harvests weeks earlier than with traditional methods.
Read the full article: How to Grow Eggplant Successfully at Home
