An Easy Vegetable to Grow in the Houston Heat
Eggplant- a Pleasant Surprise in the Houston Summer Kitchen Garden
Eggplant, or as the French say, “Aubergine” is a proven winner in our Houston summers.
Truth be told, we were never big fans of eggplant, until we started growing it in our own gardens. The flowers alone won us over. The fruit is easy to grow and many varieties thrive in our sweltering Houston climate.
Eggplant originated in India. There are TONS of varieties to choose from including American, Asian and Italian. With colors like white, green, yellow, orange and purple, it’s easy to see why eggplant can become a showy statement plant in your raised bed garden!
Tips for Growing Eggplant
In Houston, you can plant eggplant in the spring and summer. Like tomatoes, they need full sun and consistent watering. These beauties can grow up to 4 feet high, so be sure to give them enough space to spread and show off. We love to plant them on the corner of a raised bed. And, be ready to add a bamboo or metal stake for support as they grow bigger.
One eggplant will bear lots of fruit and produces all summer and into the fall. Eggplant typically takes 60-80 days from transplant to harvest. Eggplant is ready to harvest when the skin is shinny and your thumb doesn’t leave an impression. Overripe fruit can become spongy and bitter. When harvesting, cut close to the main stem leaving an inch of stem and the protective green petals at the top of the eggplant.
Diversity of Eggplant Varieties- It’s a Rainbow
It’s astounding how many varieties of eggplant are available to grow in your kitchen garden. It’s a rainbow of colors, not just the dark purple ones that you find at your local grocery store.
Our favorite eggplant varieties include:
Black Magic~ Purple, elongated oval (75 days)
Classic~ Purple, elongated teardrop shape (75 days)
Black Beauty~ Purple-black (70 days)
Louisiana Green~ Long, slender, green (65 days)
Fairy Tale~ A mini eggplant, only 5 inches at maturity (50 days)
Ichiban~ Long, skinny Asian variety, less likely to turn bitter in summer stress (60 days)
How to Handle Pests on Your Eggplant Leaves
Spider mites will likely want to take up residence on your eggplant leaves. Check the undersides of leaves and control them with hard sprays of water or insecticidal soap. This is very effective at killing small soft-bodied pests like aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, white flies and scale. It does not harm beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings or bees!
Recipe here:
*Mix 1 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile soap in 1 quart of water, or 5 tablespoons in 1 gallon of water for a larger batch. Use a spray bottle to blast the pests. You will need direct contact with the pests. When using insecticidal soap, it’s best to apply in the evening. You don’t want to spray in direct sunlight, as it can sunburn plant leaves.
Garden to Table Serving Ideas
Grilling and roasting are the easiest ways to enjoy your eggplant. You can also toss them into a stir-fry or add to ratatouille. Plus, there is nothing better than a traditional eggplant parmesan or caponata.
