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Varieties
American/Classic: Black Beauty, Black Bell, Black Magic, Classic, Dusky, Florida High Bush, Florida Market
Asian: Ichiban, Long Tom, Megal, Millionaire, Neon, Pingtung long, Tango, Tycoon
Italian: Blacknite, Early Long Purple, Galine, Rosa Bianca
Sicilian: Fairy Tale, Purple Rain, Zebra
White and Specialty Varieties: California White, Dancer, Easter Egg, Louisiana Long Green, Snowy, White Cloud
Soil Preferences
Well drained, fertile, sandy loam soil with pH 5.5 - 7.2. The higher the organic matter content the better.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Warm season, continuous long warm days (72-86°F) and warm nights (70-75°F). Will tolerate high temperatures, but growth stops below 63°F.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Transplanted (preferred) or direct seeded |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Transplants
Direct Seeded
|
| Seeding rate | 1.5 - 2 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 6,500 |
| Seeding depth | 1/8 - 1/4" |
| Seedling spacing | 24-36" on 38-40" wide raised beds |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 120 - 90 - 110 lb/acre | |
| N* | 70-135 |
|---|---|
| P | 70-150 |
| K | 100-120 (normally only required in East Texas) |
Water/Irrigation
20 - 35" applied uniformly throughout growing season. Critical time during bloom through fruit set.Pest Management
Eggplant Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Anthracnose | azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, maneb, polyoxin D zinc salt, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin, | copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, |
| Damping off (Pythium) | fludioxonil, thiram, | |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, fenamidone, metam-potassium, oxamyl, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Phomopsis fruit rot | copper sulfate, | copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, |
| Phytophthora crown rot | mefenoxam, metaxyl, |
Eggplant Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Naled, Oxamyl, Oxydemeton-methyl, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Pyriproxyfen, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
| Leafminer | Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Naled, Oxamyl, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, |
| Spider Mite | Oxamyl, Oxydemeton-methyl, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil |
| Whitefly | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Endosulfan, Fenpyroximate, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Soybean Oil, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | DCPA, napropamide, bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | DCPA, napropamide | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, paraquat, halosulfuron, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | Transplants - 70-90 Direct seeded - 112-146 |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand (easily bruised so care should be exercised to prevent bruising) |
| Containers | Bushel baskets |
| Grades | Fancy, #1, #2 depending upon size, uniformity and presence of defects |
| Packaging/Handling | 33 lb 1 1/9 bushel cartons holding 18 or 24 count Italian eggplant: 10 lb bulk cartons of 4/6 oz packages |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 13,000-15,000 lbs |
Transit Conditions
45-50°F at 90-95% RH for 1 week. Experience chilling injury at or below 45°F.Comments/Production Keys
- As fruit matures flesh softens; harvest when a slight indentation remains when fruits are pressed slightly with finger or thumb
- Reaches peak harvest maturity when 5-8" long (1/3 - 2/3 mature size), true to color for variety type and prior to seed color change
- Calyx or cap should be allowed to remain attached to fruit when harvested
- Responds well to plastic mulch drip irrigation and row covers due to long growing season requirements and sensitivity to cold conditions
- Good drainage a must, very sensitive to root rots
- Cultivars with very long type fruits are more resistant to extremely high temperatures; small egg-shaped and oval types are not
- Flowering begins after the sixth leaf has opened in early cultivars; late varieties require 14 leaves prior to flowering
- Not sensitive to day length as far as flowering is concerned
- oriental cultivars bear long slender fruits and are more prolific than the standard types