Eggplant in pots

EGGPLANT

Eggplant is a summer favourite in the garden and the kitchen, and with a decent-sized pot, you can enjoy growing this attractive fruit on a patio or balcony. If you’ve had problems with deadly soilborne diseases such as verticillium wilt, you can grow your eggplant in containers without fear of a repeat appearance.

A large, 40cm-wide pot can accommodate a single plant. Eggplant looks great in terracotta pots, creating a Mediterranean feel, but they dry out quickly. Coat the inside with a pot sealant first, or use a plastic or glazed container. Place the pot in a sunny spot protected from strong winds. Fill it with a 3:1:1 blend of premium potting mix, coir peat and washed river sand.

Buy seedlings this month to make the most of the growing season (seed is best started in September in most areas). Compact and early-maturing varieties are ideal for pots. Look for Slim Jim, Long Purple, White Star, Thai Long Green and Mini Lebanese. Plant them at the same level as they were growing in the original punnet or pot. Put in a few bamboo stakes or a tomato cage to help keep the fruit-laden plants upright.

Dry potting mix leads to poor-quality fruit, so check your eggplant daily to see if it needs more water. If this isn’t practical, grow it in a self-watering pot to give you an extra day or two. Add mulch to the surface to conserve moisture. These are hungry, hardworking plants, so add a sprinkling of pelletised poultry manure once a month, and supplement with a weekly application of liquid seaweed and fish emulsion. Keep an eye out for black flea beetles, ladybirds and their larvae, which feed on the leaves. Pick them off and squash them.

The first fruit should be ready to harvest 2–3 months from planting. Cut them off with sharp secateurs when they have reached full size and are still glossy and firmish.