tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post7731524263320182728..comments2024-03-17T05:30:42.919-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Sowing EggplantMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-33607544162155052592015-05-17T20:56:41.910-04:002015-05-17T20:56:41.910-04:00I'm not too familiar with different eggplant v...I'm not too familiar with different eggplant varieties so I had to look up Fairytale and Listada de gandia - they both look beautiful with the purple/white variegation. It will be interesting to hear what you think of the plants/fruits from the new varieties you are growing, especially compared to your past experience with the Fairytale variety, which looks to be very quick to mature.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54348109451376305572015-05-17T18:08:19.269-04:002015-05-17T18:08:19.269-04:00I'm growing ping tung and listada de gandia th...I'm growing ping tung and listada de gandia this year. I've only every grown fairytale before but I find eggplants so beautiful I wanted to try growing some and experimenting with more recipes (many from the baker creek seed catalogue from last year) Isis Loran- Little Mountain Havenhttp://littlemountainhaven.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-41732185368219292322015-05-06T12:27:19.287-04:002015-05-06T12:27:19.287-04:00Well that is great to hear, especially if our summ...Well that is great to hear, especially if our summer turns out to be cooler than usual like last year. Hopefully your beginner's luck will rub off on me!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-67576693648134494102015-05-06T11:55:57.078-04:002015-05-06T11:55:57.078-04:00I have only grown Aubergines / Eggplants once, and...I have only grown Aubergines / Eggplants once, and they were Ping Tung Long. I was surprised that they grew well here, and produced many fruits, even though grown outdoors, because people said that they needed a lot of warmth in order to set fruit. Beginner's Luck, maybe?Mark Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04558305122821209520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-88926996247105534042015-05-04T17:56:13.622-04:002015-05-04T17:56:13.622-04:00It sounds like my Slim Jim eggplant seeds that ger...It sounds like my Slim Jim eggplant seeds that germinated in only 4 days are the exception rather than the rule! I think I may start my eggplant quite a bit sooner next year - there always seems to be a bit of juggling with timing when you grow something for the first time.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-6744913848993832422015-05-04T16:53:14.736-04:002015-05-04T16:53:14.736-04:00I'm with you, I prefer the long slim Asian egg...I'm with you, I prefer the long slim Asian eggplant over the globe shape variety, since Michelle mention the Sicilian globe, I'm intrigued and look forward to hear more about it.<br />I don't have any problem in transplanting eggplant seedlings, they are slow starters, sometimes when I was about to give up they decided to pop out overnight.Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08837486464329151966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-77575461011949833822015-05-04T13:27:20.666-04:002015-05-04T13:27:20.666-04:00Since we live in similar climates, hopefully I'...Since we live in similar climates, hopefully I'll have the same experience with Ping Tung as you do. My list of finicky veg when it comes to germination is definitely growing!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59789161099749715792015-05-04T09:26:53.680-04:002015-05-04T09:26:53.680-04:00Ping Tung is great because it produces fairly earl...Ping Tung is great because it produces fairly early for me, the flesh is tender and creamy, and it is fairly resistant to the flea beetles that are a plague around here. I had the same variation in germination time. Started with just one germinating and I figured that's all I get. A month later I now have a full six-pack of varying sizes. No problems with transplanting.David Veltenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07710293718143454000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59379580309910979222015-05-03T20:41:51.143-04:002015-05-03T20:41:51.143-04:00I'm so looking forward to growing them this ye...I'm so looking forward to growing them this year. I don't know anyone else that grows them, so it will be interesting to how well they do there.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-64774292534121572492015-05-03T18:36:40.890-04:002015-05-03T18:36:40.890-04:00I agree, I like the long Asian eggplants better th...I agree, I like the long Asian eggplants better than the big, round dark ones that give you too much eggplant all at once.Lou Murray's Green Worldhttp://greenlifeinsocal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-65525313032033756612015-05-02T12:48:24.765-04:002015-05-02T12:48:24.765-04:00Another one to add to the list - thanks Sue!Another one to add to the list - thanks Sue!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-31565962251469191512015-05-02T11:30:10.419-04:002015-05-02T11:30:10.419-04:00We grow a compact variety called Jackpot which see...We grow a compact variety called Jackpot which seems to do well for us in the greenhouse,Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50123663661238669702015-05-02T09:22:17.297-04:002015-05-02T09:22:17.297-04:00I've never grown a mixed packet of seeds - the...I've never grown a mixed packet of seeds - there's something to be said for that element of mystery until the plant fruits. You have me intrigued with the Sicilian eggplant...I'll be keeping my eye out for that one on your posts.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-56078633220434495832015-05-01T18:20:13.352-04:002015-05-01T18:20:13.352-04:00I'll add my confirmation that eggplant isn'...I'll add my confirmation that eggplant isn't all that fussy about being transplanted. I'm growing some Asian ones this year, I started plants from a packet of purple, green, and white "Fingers". I'm not sure how I'll be able to tell the plants apart until the set fruit, but I some of the plants have a purple tinge so that might be a hint. And I frow a Sicilian globe type that has the most tender white flesh, more tender than the Asian types. It's worth the long grow time and small production, it's so good.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-7805135656638565072015-05-01T08:28:59.768-04:002015-05-01T08:28:59.768-04:00Most people I know are not huge eggplant fans. Fo...Most people I know are not huge eggplant fans. For me, it's all about preparation - I really didn't like the whole parmigiana business, so would usually avoid eggplant based on that. Once I had it in a dish that I really enjoyed, I was much more open to trying it in other things.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-37797539177174420462015-04-30T19:33:41.637-04:002015-04-30T19:33:41.637-04:00I tried growing eggplant a couple of years ago wit...I tried growing eggplant a couple of years ago with moderate success. I'm not really a big fan, although I do enjoy the asian varieties (long, thin) more than Italian - thai spicy dishes are my favourite. I have several friends with eggplant allergies (not sure how common that is) so don't really cook much with it.Susiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354350096358468967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-72981805860158158262015-04-30T18:26:02.484-04:002015-04-30T18:26:02.484-04:00Well, it does sound as if transplanting is not an ...Well, it does sound as if transplanting is not an issue with eggplant. I think I'll change my notes and grow it in the same way as I do tomatoes & peppers, potting it up only once it is a few inches tall.<br /><br />This is what makes blogging and blogs in general so wonderful. Books and informational websites are a great starting point, but nothing really beats speaking with real people about their real experiences.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-65458536592337120422015-04-30T18:15:24.490-04:002015-04-30T18:15:24.490-04:00Wow - 30 plants IS a lot! I haven't heard of ...Wow - 30 plants IS a lot! I haven't heard of either Applegreen or Bangladeshi Long, but they do sound promising for a short season area like mine. I have a feeling that, just like peppers, I'll likely expand my selection of eggplant next year...although I doubt I'll grow anywhere near the amount you do!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-27209470544768135182015-04-30T16:34:03.829-04:002015-04-30T16:34:03.829-04:00I love the Ping Tung Long, and other white-fleshed...I love the Ping Tung Long, and other white-fleshed eggplant varieties, Count me as another one who transplants eggplant all the time without issues. I am always careful, and try and prick it out without damaging the roots, but it hasn't been more troublesome for me than any other veg. It can be tough to germinate though, and I always use a heating mat.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-18251713085512107032015-04-30T15:48:06.161-04:002015-04-30T15:48:06.161-04:00Growing eggplants is so a fun challenge and they&#...Growing eggplants is so a fun challenge and they're such pretty plants as well. Last time I grew 30 eggplants/aubergine which was way too many. Applegreen was the earliest variety I grew but it got wrinkly after only a couple days, Bangladeshi Long were the second earliest and the biggest plant topping out at 5 feet before I chopped it down in August. Both varieties were very prolific. Ping Tung was actually one of the later varieties for me.Phuonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07658691564062044986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-59031650181465466322015-04-30T15:12:27.705-04:002015-04-30T15:12:27.705-04:00I think that your climate may be more moderate tha...I think that your climate may be more moderate than ours (at both ends), which may account for the difficulty you had. Our summers do tend to get very hot, which I think eggplant would love, so I'm hoping that I'm able to harvest at least a few fruits. If we have a normal summer this year, that is.<br /><br />I have noticed that about some seeds in the past, but never really paid much attention. This time, it stuck out because both times only 1 of the 4 seeds I was starting was a lighter colour and that one ended up being the quick germinator.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-40877416463505888242015-04-30T15:06:07.106-04:002015-04-30T15:06:07.106-04:00My eggplant dislike took a complete 180 once I had...My eggplant dislike took a complete 180 once I had it in a Thai curry at a restaurant. I kept digging around, trying to find more pieces, as I was eating. So guess what ended up in my shopping cart the next time I went to the grocery store...Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-90339679348454656482015-04-30T15:01:59.926-04:002015-04-30T15:01:59.926-04:00Well, it seems like I made a good choice then! I ...Well, it seems like I made a good choice then! I hope that my plants are as successful as yours have been...and I'm sure will be again this year. Now I know who to ask if I have Ping Tung eggplant issues ;)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-25731319733125610142015-04-30T14:59:53.347-04:002015-04-30T14:59:53.347-04:00Thanks Jenny...They seem to be doing well, but it&...Thanks Jenny...They seem to be doing well, but it's still several weeks until they go outside and, as we all know, a lot can happen in that time. I hope that yours perk up and get growing for you!Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-40663935805777450592015-04-30T14:56:46.011-04:002015-04-30T14:56:46.011-04:00When I sprout seeds, I rarely let the roots get ve...When I sprout seeds, I rarely let the roots get very long, so I'm not too worried about that. Most of the time, it's just barely visible as it emerges from the seed coat.<br /><br />Having never grown eggplant before, I'm can't really say whether the sensitivity to transplanting is valid or not. I also had read the same thing in the past about other plants, and have subsequently not had any issues. Hearing that you successfully start yours in cell packs and then repot makes me think that this may be the case here. Maybe all this talk about difficulty transplanting relates more to rough handling, etc.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.com