Eggplants can come back every year in ideal, tropical conditions. Most eggplants die after their first harvest. The longest-lived eggplants only live for 3 years.
One source argued that eggplant plants can come back every year but they usually won’t. Eggplants rarely survive long past the harvest months. A perennial plant eggplant is a rarity outside of tropical climates. Eggplants can come back every year in ideal, tropical conditions.
Are eggplants annuals or perennials?
Eggplants, like tomatoes and peppers, are actually tropical perennials plants in the wild. Gardeners in temperate areas tend to grow them as annuals, since they do not tolerate cold temperatures. However, if you’ve got a warm greenhouse where they can spend the winter, you can certainly treat your eggplants much like you would your peppers!
This begs the query “Can Eggplant grow as a perennial?”
The answer is that with proper pruning and feeding, eggplant can be grown as a perennial, though gardeners should be prepared for harvests to decline eventually. San Diego reader Don Skolnik wrote to our So. Cal Garden Clinic to ask if eggplant can be grown as a perennial.
Do eggplants need high temperatures?
Rate this Article: Given their tropical and subtropical heritage, eggplants do require relatively high temperatures, similar to tomatoes and peppers (which are also in the nightshade family of vegetables). Like tomatoes, eggplants grow hanging from the vines of a plant that grows several feet in height.
Another frequently asked question is “Can you cut eggplant back like peppers?”.
You can cut these plants back like peppers if your season is long enough for a second crop. Store eggplant in the refrigerator. The optimal conditions for storage are temperatures of 45 to 50 °F and 90-percent relative humidity for one week. Do not wash or cut in advance to avoid damaging the skin, which will quickly perish if exposed.
How late can you plant eggplant?
When to Plant Eggplant Start indoors 35 to 55 days before the last frost and harden off at least ten days before putting it in its permanent location. You can transplant this when the plants are at least 3-inches tall . Plant eggplants well after the chance of frost has passed in the spring when soil temperatures reach 55-60°F.
Well, harvest 65 to 80 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. When starting from seed, expect 100 to 120 days to maturity. The best way to gauge the time to harvest: The skin of the fruit is shiny and unwrinkled and a uniform color.
One frequent answer is, july, August, and September (even into October) are all harvest months for eggplant, depending on where you live and the variety you planted. Don’t wait too long to harvest! Eggplant tastes best when harvested young. Then, the plant’s energy will go into producing new fruit.
How do you keep eggplant from falling over?
After planting, water well. Add a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Eggplant will fall over once loaded with fruit! Be sure to stake tall plants or use a cage to keep the plants upright. If growing eggplant in containers, stake the stems before the fruit forms.