Solanum melongena (Eggplant, Aubergine, Brinjal)

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Plant description

Solanum melongena, or eggplant, is a delicate tropical perennial plant that bears edible, popular, meaty fleshed fruit. In temperate zones, it is usually treated as an annual, as it is frost tender. It has large, coarsely lobed leaves and the stems, inluding the fruit stems, can be spiny. After the white or purple flowers come the oval shaped fruit. The fruit is normally dark black-purple, but can also come in other colours, such as white, yellow, geen and pink, and also striped fruit. There are large fruited cultivars, and small finger length varieties. The raw fruit can be bitter, but once cooked they develop a rich flavour which is used in a wide range of cuisines.

Eggplant is in the same family as tomatoes, capsicum and potatoes, and growing in the same place year after year will lead to disease build up. They like a well drained soil and a sunny position. Regular watering and fertilising will maximise fruit production.

Propagation is by seed, sown in spring. They can be sown directly into the garden, or started in seed trays and transplanted when large enough to handle.

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: purple, white
Flowering season: spring summer autumn

Plant size

Maximum height: 2.5 metres
Minimum height: 0.5 metres

Maximum width: 2 metres
Minimum width: not specified

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full or partial sunlight.
Light frost tolerance.
Plant is salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Not specified.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: temperate, subtropical, tropical.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: moist, well-drained.

Clay: moist, well-drained.

Sand: moist.

Soil pH: 5.5-6.5

Pests

Aphids, leaf hoppers, cutworms, grasshoppers, snails

Miscellaneous information

Planting season: not specified.

Types of fertiliser: not specified.

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