Eggplant Growing Stages: How to Grow Eggplant Step by Step

Did you know it’s possible to transform your rooftop garden or a small apartment balcony into a thriving eggplant haven?

Growing eggplants indoors is a rewarding experience and a chance to bring the homegrown goodness of healthy eggplants and add some green scenery to your New York Apartment. 

Eggplant is easy to grow in a large container, garden or raised bed when it gets the right environment, like sunlight, moist soil and plenty of warmth, and you’ll be in for an abundant harvest.

Not sure about eggplant growth stages and how long it will take to mature? In this article, we explore eggplant growing stages from planting to harvesting and share tips on how to take care of the plant in all stages of eggplant growth.

Eggplant Growing Stages

There are different varieties of eggplants that you can grow, from the rounded white to the fleshy variety and long, narrow variety, depending on your preference. You can either start from seeds or buy young seedlings from a garden centre in New York. 

Eggplants can have white, green or purple hues. The versatile plant can be added to various dishes, and you can grill, roast, broil, or sauté them. Read on to find out what to expect in each stage.

Stage 1: Selecting seeds

Choose the variety of seeds depending on how you want your eggplant to be. There are different types of eggplants, but they have the same growing requirements and growth stages. 

• Large meaty varieties: great if you like eating stuffed eggplant

• Long, thin Asian variety: this is ideal if you prefer to slice and fry eggplants.

• Oval shaped white eggplant: unique and has an egg like shape and can come in different colors like white, green and purple.

The seeds are small, flat and round and are pale brown in color. Store the rest in a cool and dry place for the future. Avoid old, moldy seeds with a musty smell and buy fresh seeds.

Stage 2: Sowing 

Start seeds indoors in small pots or containers in moist high quality soil. It is easier to sow seeds indoors because you have control over temperature and moisture.

Fill the pots or containers with high quality soil and plant two seeds in each. Keep the seeds half an inch from the surface, then water to moisten the soil. Keep the pots near the window to get sunlight or use a grow light. Warmth and sunlight boost germination.

Eggplants require warmth, and starting the seeds about 8 to 9 weeks before frost is good. You don’t have to start from the seeds.  Buy young plants from the garden center in New York and transplant them directly to your indoor or rooftop garden after the frost has passed.

Stage 3: Germination

When provided with the right environment, eggplant seeds often germinate in 5 to 14 days. The outer layer of the seed opens to let out the first root, which naturally grows down into the soil. Then the plant sprouts, and a green pushes through the soil and sprouts.

This stage needs warmth and moisture, so water the seeds regularly to keep the soil moist. 

Stage 4: Formation of cotyledon

After germination, it only takes a few days (6-12 days) for the cotyledons to appear, which is about 14 to 21 days after planting the seeds. These are the first leaves of the eggplant and appear as thin, pointed leaves with tender stems.

This is one of the most sensitive eggplant growing stages because it is most vulnerable to extreme temperatures and lack of moisture. So, keep the plant warm and water frequently to prevent it from drying out.

At this stage, you can transplant the young eggplant into large containers for indoor garden or rooftop garden or to an outdoor garden bed (if there is no frost outside). Space the pants 18 inches apart to give them room to grow. 

If you’ll be planting them in an outdoor garden, Take the plants outside for a limited time and expose them to sunlight and temperatures to harden them off. Then, bring them back inside the house at night. After a week or two of hardening, the plant will be ready for transplant in the outdoor garden.

Stage 5: Growth

The young eggplants have developed true leaves at this stage and start rapid vegetative growth. The plant will form new green leaves quickly in readiness for flowering and fruiting. The plant needs enough sunlight and moisture at this stage. Keep the plant in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours every day and water it regularly.

Also, watch out for pests such as green caterpillars and stinkbugs that feed on leaves. Eggplant is also susceptible to a fungal infection known as blight that affects all parts of the plant, and bacterial wilt (a bacterial infection that causes wilting and death of the plant.)

Avoid using pesticides since they can also kill insects that pollinate the plant. Plant eggplants with companion plants such as oregano or marigold, which deter pests.

Stage 6: Flowering

The eggplant starts flowering from day 60 after planting the seeds and is a sign that the plant is mature and ready to produce fruits. The flowers are star shaped and have a pale purple hue.

The good thing is that eggplant can fertile itself and doesn’t rely on pollinators. However, cross pollination from other eggplants may have a better yield. At the eggplant flowering stage, add some organic fertilizer around the plant to improve fruit production.

Stage 7: Fruiting

Once the eggplant flowers, it takes about a week or two for the first fruits to form. The fruits continue to grow and become as large as possible.

The seed variety that you choose will determine the color, shape and size of the fruit. Some are longer, while others are oval shaped. Fruits are sweet and tender when young, get bitter as they age, and have tough seeds.

Stage 8: Harvest

It’s finally time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It takes about 65 to 90 days from the time you planted the seeds for the eggplants to be ready for harvest. The plant’s growth depends on the type of seed and the environmental conditions such as sunlight, moisture and soil quality.

Mature fruits have a smooth and firm feel but are not rock hard, while older fruits are soft and have wrinkles. It is good to harvest the eggplants at the right time. Hold the eggplant and snip the stem just above the fruit with scissors. Don’t pull or twist, as you may uproot the whole eggplant.

Store the eggplants in the refrigerator for one or two weeks. You can bake, fry, sauté, roast or grill eggplants. Enjoy them anytime, any day, with your favorite meals.

Final Thoughts on Eggplant Growing Stages

It is possible to grow your own eggplant in your New York home in your outdoor garden or a large container if you keep it near sunlight and provide the right conditions. Water the plant regularly and add organic fertilizer to provide the right nutrition for an abundant harvest. Always monitor your plants and take the necessary measures in the eggplant growing stages to keep off pests and diseases, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your home grown eggplants.

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