Growing Eggplants

GROW YOUR OWN EGGPLANTS

Growing your own eggplant can be a very rewarding experience. You'll reap the benefits of this wonderful vegetable since it is both easy to grow and can be tastefully prepared in a number of ways! There are several types of eggplants ranging from the ever-popular Black Beauty eggplant to the white-fleshed varieties such as Ghost buster  Santana, and White Italian. Regardless of the type of eggplant you choose to grow, here are some "tried and true" tips to help you grow a crop of the season's best eggplant!

Sowing and Planting

• Decide on transplants or grow from seeds. 
• Growing from seed may require more time. So, begin by planting indoors and allow four to six weeks of plant growth before you transplant the seedlings to the outdoor garden. 
• Choose a sunny, sheltered area of your garden where the soil drains well. 
• Plant seedlings 2cm deep and 60cm apart and water well. When buying seedlings look for plants with dark green, fully opened leaves. 
• Feed your eggplant seedlings with a potassium-rich fertilizer after planting and just after the plant has flowered. 
• Keep your seedlings moist they need about 3cm of water a week, so water them regularly . 
• Mulching your seedlings will help to keep the soil moist and also discourage the growth of weeds. 

Harvesting And Storage

• Eggplants are ready for harvest when the flesh is soft but resilient. 
• When pressed while still attached to the plant, the flesh should give slightly under pressure but then quickly return to its former shape. Immature eggplants have hard flesh that does not give under pressure, while the flesh of overripe eggplants does not spring back to its original shape.
• Eggplants will be ready to harvest after about five months (they should be 10-15cm long). Harvest them by cutting them off at the stem. 
• Once picked they will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge. 

Few Health Benefits Of Eggplant

• Nutrients- Eggplant is an excellent source of dietary fiber. It’s a very good source of vitamins B1, B6 and potassium. It’s a good source of copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, and folic acid
• Cholesterol- Eggplant has been used as a cholesterol-lowering agent, and there are some studies to support that claim. There are however other studies that do not support the use of eggplant extract as a cholesterol lowering agent.
• Diabetes- The National Diabetes Education Program of NIH, Mayo Clinic and American Diabetes Association recommend an eggplant based diet as a choice for management of type 2 diabetes.
• Keeping Hair, Skin and Nails Healthy with Eggplant- Due to the high water content, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats in eggplant it can help keep our hair healthy and strong, our nails from becoming brittle and dry and our skin glowing, soft and well hydrated naturally. The potent nutrients in eggplant can even help prevent skin cancer from forming as well.

Spicy Grilled Eggplant Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 small eggplants, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning

Directions

• Brush eggplant slices with oil on both sides. Drizzle with lime juice; sprinkle with Cajun seasoning. Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Grill eggplant, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until tender.