Eggplants are part of the sun-loving vegetables that require plenty of warmth. If you don’t have a greenhouse or a hotbed, you can still practice planting at home.
When to Plant Eggplants?
With a too late planting, eggplants won’t have enough time to mature. They are planted early in the season to harvest them ripe during the summer. However, an early planting requires that the plants remain warm until planting in the soil, which occurs in early May or later, depending on the region.
How Long Can Eggplant Seeds Be Stored?
The germination power of eggplant seeds is between 5 and 7 years. Considering that there are between 200 and 250 seeds in a 1 gram package, they can be preserved for several years with the same package.
How to Plant Eggplants in a Seed Tray?
Some gardeners suggest planting directly in pots instead of in seed trays, as they claim it’s a waste of time, which is true, but it’s also a waste of space. Let’s recognize that indoors, the window ledge is too narrow to plant directly in pots.
Planting in Mini Seed Trays
Planting in mini seed trays is a very good compromise to handle the lack of space. The principle is to place a single seed in each 17 mm cube to save space and time. Then, young seedlings are transplanted into 7 cm diameter pots or placed in 50 mm seed trays while waiting for warmer days.
How to Plant Eggplant Seeds: Step by Step?
- Plant one seed per cell.
- Lightly cover the seeds with soil.
- Place the tray at a minimum temperature between 20°C and 24°C.
- A heating mat with an electric resistance is placed under the tray to compensate for the lack of warmth.
Installing Additional Light for Indoor Germination
Eggplants need plenty of light, otherwise, they stretch and wilt. In a room, natural light may be insufficient, so artificial light, such as a grow lamp, is necessary to get strong and well-developed plants until planting in the soil.
