Classic Italian Eggplant Plant

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Here it is, the Classic Eggplant, by which all others are compared. Classic Italian Eggplant has the bulbous shape and shiny, deeply colored skin everyone knows. It also has a deep earthy flavor that lends itself to traditional dishes such as Eggplant Parmesan and Ratatouille. Classic Italian is a solid-performing F1 hybrid that has been around for a long time and may never go out of fashion. This plant produces fruit until the first frost and can even be grown in containers if you have a small garden.

Classic Italian Eggplant Care  

Plant Eggplants out after all danger of frost has passed for your area, and the nighttime temperatures are routinely over 50 degrees F. Well-draining and rich soil is a must, so amend any raised beds or garden area with 1-2 inches of organic compost before planting. Space plants 12 inches apart and provide stakes early. These plants get top heavy as they produce fruit and will need added support. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Eggplants can stand slightly drier soil conditions than other vegetables in the garden. There is no need to pinch the top growth for these plants to grow bushy. Remove ripened fruit as soon as possible to encourage more blooming.

Growing Classic Italian Eggplant

Classic Italian Eggplant starts to produce fruit 76 days after transplanting. The 8-9-inch fruits will be very firm and evenly purple when ready to harvest. Leaving the fruit to grow larger will cause seediness and a bitter flavor. Eggplants can be successfully grown in a greenhouse if temperatures can be regulated through the summer. Temperatures over 90 degrees F keep Eggplants from flowering or ripening.  

Container-growing Eggplant is easy to do and can decorate a deck or patio. Use a soil-based potting mix and a container that has good drainage holes. Plant Eggplant in a pot with at least a 10-inch diameter. Fertilizing will need to be done throughout the season. Use a diluted liquid seaweed or fish emulsion formula every other week to encourage large fruits and many blooms. Stop fertilizing after the fruit begins to form.

Watering Classic Eggplant

Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out. In the garden bed, this might be once or twice a week. Eggplants growing in pots will need watering more often, even once a day during the hottest part of the summer. Mulching plants with compost or straw will help conserve moisture in the soil.

Feeding Classic Italian Eggplant

Feed Eggplants with a diluted liquid seaweed or fish emulsion every two weeks. Stop fertilizing when the fruit begins to set.

SKU:

1231010085-pc