To be an eggplant, or to not be an eggplant--that is the question here

Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
7
Location
Vancouver, BC
Hi there,

Neubie gardener here.

This year, I started my vegetable plants from seeds for the first time. These seeds were started indoors with a heat mat and artificial light. I did not use seed mix to plant the seeds in -- I used a compost aggregate I purchased from a landscaping company.

One of the plants I attempted was the Bambino eggplant. While I had success with all my other plants, out of the 6 I planted of the eggplant, only one took.

I've now planted the one "successful" eggplant outside in my patio container garden, and it's taken off like a weed. Seeing as it doesn't look much like an eggplant plant, I'm starting to wonder if it is, in fact, a weed! Can anyone confirm/refute this?!

Unfortunately, as a new member, I'm unable to post the picture, so if anyone thinks they might be able to help, maybe email me! Thanks
 

digitS'

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
26,727
Reaction score
32,513
Points
457
Location
border, ID/WA(!)
Amanda, we are all so dismayed over the recent spate of spam that we may be a bit shy about contacts :hide.

Here is a fairly typical eggplant:

Cry1Ab%20Eggplant%20T1%201_LB.jpg


The bells are less likely to have thorns. Thorns!? Yeah, some eggplants have thorns.

I'm off to the garden now but will have a photo of my eggplants this afternoon and we can all do some comparisons.

Steve
 
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
7
Location
Vancouver, BC
Thanks for the picture!

Unfortunately, mine doesn't look anything like that :(

I grew the fairytale last year, which is why I was concerned that the monstrosity I'm growing right now is NOT an eggplant. What a bummer!

I'm trying to post the picture again...

8198_eggplant.jpg
 

journey11

Garden Master
Joined
Sep 1, 2009
Messages
8,470
Reaction score
4,228
Points
397
Location
WV, Zone 6B
Hi Amanda, :welcome

That sure doesn't look like an eggplant to me either. Probably a weed came in with your compost?

Speaking of spam, you might want to go up to your first post and remove your email address just because it might make you more vulnerable to spam. Unfortunately, we do get a few spammers come by here occasionally.

If you go up to the top and click on your Profile tab and then select Privacy, you can set your account up to allow other TEG members to email you through form mail, which will come to your email inbox, but you can keep your email address hidden at the same time.

Welcome and have fun! :frow
 

digitS'

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
26,727
Reaction score
32,513
Points
457
Location
border, ID/WA(!)
Well, I'm glad we got that squared away!

I took 4 shots of my eggplant. They are decidedly unphotogenic plants :/! Light was terrible but an eggplant doesn't seem to know what to do when you aim a camera at it :rolleyes:!

Welcome to the forum, Amanda :frow!

Steve
 

4grandbabies

Deeply Rooted
Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
654
Reaction score
46
Points
182
Location
Central Missouri
Glad you joined us.:frow
I have never grown egg plants, so I am no help with your question, just wanted to say welcome.
 
Joined
May 23, 2011
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
7
Location
Vancouver, BC
Thanks for all the "welcomes" and assistance with identifying my giant (and very well-cared for) weed :D

I've removed it now, and am looking to replace it with a seedling from a garden centre (or maybe I'll get lucky and find one on craigslist).

Hopefully the new one will grow as well as the "old" one! Ha! Thanks again!
 

catjac1975

Garden Master
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
9,021
Reaction score
9,149
Points
397
Location
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
I have been growing everything you can think of from seed and eggplant is the hardest to germinate for me. 35 years experience. soak your seed in a wet paper towel and leave on your heat mat-do not allow to dry out. The eggplant growing like a weed is probably a weed. They like heat, heat, heat.
 
Top