Eggplant trouble

[Greenthumb18]

I'm having bad luck with eggplants this year, i remember how well i had eggplants in the garden last year and dont understand why this year is having such a hard time. My eggplant seedlings would be ok one day then the next they would look wilted and yellow as if something got to them but with no sign of damage. I have a variety that seems pretty early for an eggplant so i will try again, if its one thing i learned in gardening its to TRY AGAIN!!!! and never give up. Would you recommend giving fertilizer to the eggplants once they sprout i know that last year i never fed the plants except for once transplanted.

 

[digitS']

Another name for eggplant is finicky (maybe we'll get Hattie to respond by calling it "aubergine" ).

What they dislike the most is . . . cool weather. They wilt at 65 degrees with a 10 mph breeze. The poor dears must be absolutely pathetic after dark and overnight .

Everything in their family likes fertilizer. And, you may be able to give them a boost this late in the season since it should be warm now. I'd never get away with starting them from seed this late but I've got 165 days frost-free at the very best. And, with many of those (shiver) cool nights along the way. They wouldn't have time to produce fruit.

Steve

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi Steve

AUBERGINE, aubergine, aubergine............!!!

Seriously, thanks for the EGGPLANT advice -- I have never grown them before this year -- so I am just a beginner on this subject. I'm growing three different varieties so maybe one will work out for me. So far, os good! The seedlings took a while to come through but they are doing really well -- nice compact, sturdy plants. They are still in the little portable greenhouse as we are going through a cool spell here with torrential rain(for the last 3 days.......

Greenthumb

Sorry about your eggplants -- it's rotten when they suddenly turn up their toes for no reason you can see.


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[Greenthumb18]

Thanks you guys for replying !!

I'm just trying to figure out why they would come out only to wilt away. But its not like they all died i have maybe 20 seedlings left, so wish me luck with those i'm going to need it.
If all else fails i'll have to buy some transplants this year, can't imagine eggplant not in the garden.

:coolsun Happy Gardening !!! :coolsun

So you would fertilize the seedlings?? Do i have to wait untill they get their true leaves to feed them??

 

[Greenthumb18]

I finally found out why my eggplants were dying, i placed them in direct sunlight....
the seedlings were practically baking in there. The seedlings were getting too much sunlight that the sun actually burned or wilted the seed leaves off, then the plants cant grow because the sun wilted its leaves away. I'm just glad i realized what i did wrong. I have another tray ready to sprout so i will not place those in direct sunlight.

Maybe i'll actually have some eggplants this summer

 

[wifezilla]

If you sew the seeds in direct sunlight will they do OK after they emerge? (asks the person who just planted some seeds in the sunny spot in the back yard )

 

[Greenthumb18]

If you sew the seeds in direct sunlight will they do OK after they emerge? (asks the person who just planted some seeds in the sunny spot in the back yard )

In my case no, i had to move them to an area with not so much direct sunlight. We'll see how those do, i'm hoping i'll get a few to live.

 

[me&thegals]

Wifezilla--almost all garden plants like to be in full sun and will do fine when planted there as seeds. It's an issue when they get there as plants (from inside) and haven't been fully acclimated to their new spot. Good luck with the eggplants! I have a recipe you might enjoy (very low carb) for soup with eggplant, tomatoes, onions and hamburger.

 

[wifezilla]

Sounds yummy

The variety I planted are Thai Yellow Egg. I got the seeds as a freebee with my Baker Seeds order.

 

[me&thegals]

Here it is You could easily leave out the macaroni. I don't think it would affect the recipe at all. Enjoy! I love the looks of those little cutie yellow eggplants

Eggplant Supper Soupallrecipes.com
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 pound eggplant, diced
3/4 cup sliced carrots
3/4 cup sliced celery
2 (14.5 ounce) cans Italian diced tomatoes, drained (or 4 cups fresh, chopped, plus 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning)
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup dry macaroni
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion, beef, and garlic until beef is evenly brown. Drain grease, and mix in eggplant, carrots, celery, and tomatoes. Pour in beef broth. Mix in sugar, and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until heated through. Mix macaroni into the soup, and continue cooking 12 minutes, or until macaroni is al dente. Mix in parsley. Top with Parmesan cheese to serve.