Eggplant belongs to the Solanum genus.

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This semi-tropical plant is best grown under glass.

The eggplant, aubergine or brinjal (Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades) and genus Solanum. It bears a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. As a night-shade, it is closely related to the tomato and potato and is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. It is a short-lived perennial plant often cultivated as an annual. It grows 40 to 150 cm (16 to 57 in) tall, with large coarsely lobed leaves that are 10 to 20 cm (4-8 in) long and 5 to 10 cm (2-4 in) broad. (Semi-)wild types can grow much larger, to 225 cm (7 ft) with large leaves over 30 cm (12 in) long and 15 cm (6 in) broad. The stem is often spiny. The flowers are white to purple, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens. The fruit is fleshy, less than 3 cm in diameter on wild plants, but much larger in cultivated forms. The fruit contains numerous small, soft seeds, which are edible.
Source: Wikipedia Eggplant Article

• Lifecycle The lifecycle that this plant exhibits. Annual/Perennial Category The basic category that this plant belongs to. Vegetable
• Hardiness How frost hardy this plant is. Tender Country of Origin Where this plant originated from. India
• Mature Height How tall the plant will be when it grows up. 120.0 cm / 46.8" Mature Spread How wide the plant will be when it grows up. ?
• Bloom Time When this plant usually blooms. ? Harvest Time When this plant is usually harvested. Late Summer

How to keep this plant happy

• USDA Zone Range The zones that this plant is recommended to grow best in. 4 - 14 pH Range The level of acidity that this plant thrives in. -
• Water Requirements The amount of water that this plant likes to drink. Very High Nitrogen Requirements The amount of nitrogen that should be present in the soil. High
• Soil The type of soil that this plant likes to live in.
  Combination Potting Mix
  Sun The type of light that this plant likes to sunbake in.
  Full Sun Partial Sun
• Min. Air Temperature The lowest air temp that this plant will be happy in. ? Max. Air Temperature The highest air temp that this plant will be happy in. ?

Sowing and Germinating Instructions

• Can Sow Direct? Can seeds be sown directly in situ? ? Sowing Depth Seeds should be sown at this depth. 0.5 cm / 0.0"
• Sowing Distance Apart This plant should be sown at least this distance apart 60.0 cm / 23.4" Sowing Row Distance Apart This plant should be sown in rows at least this distance apart ?
• Min. Germination Temperature The lowest temp that this plant will germinate from seed. 15°C / 59°F Max. Germination Temperature The highest temp that this plant will germinate from seed. 20°C / 68°F

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Planting Out / Transplanting Instructions

• Planting Distance Apart Seedlings should be planted this far apart. ? Planting Row Distance Apart Rows between plantings should be at least this far apart. ?

How long does it approximately take to grow?

• Days to Germination From seed to seedling 16 days Average 16 days | Min 5 days | Max 65 days (13)
• Days to Transplant From seedling to transplant / planting out + 48 days
• Days to Maturity From transplant to harvest / maturity of plant + 70 days Total Growing Days From seed to maturity = 134 days

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When should I start sowing and growing?

• When to sow The number of days to sow before or after your last frost date. 42 days before Last Frost Date When to plant out The number of days to plant out before or after your last frost date. ?

Etymology

Folklore

Developed in Spain in 16th century.

Other Names

Aubergine, brinjal

Solanum melongana