If you’re looking to harvest larger yields of eggplant,
fertilizer may help. Plants use energy from the sun and nutrients from the soil
for growth and food production. Some garden vegetables, like peas and beans,
need fewer added nutrients. Others, like eggplants,
are considered heavy feeders.
How to Fertilize Eggplants
Eggplants grow best in a compost-rich, fertile soil under
full sun. Feeding eggplants during their growing and fruiting stages improves
the overall health of the plant. Healthy plants produce larger fruit in greater
quantities. In addition, when growing some varieties of eggplant, fertilizer
may reduce bitterness caused by plant stress.
Many gardeners begin the growing season by incorporating
compost and fertilizer into the garden soil prior to planting. This gives young
eggplants a boost of nutrients for a healthy start. Having
garden soil tested takes the guesswork out of how much and what type of
fertilizer to use.
Soil testing provides an NPK analysis, which tells gardeners how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is needed to balance and amend their garden soil. Plants use nitrogen for green growth and the construction of chlorophyll. Phosphorus benefits the formation of new roots and is used in flower, fruit, and seed production. Potassium contributes to stem strength, disease resistance, and growth.
Periodic eggplant feeding during the growing season also
helps these heavy feeders with setting and producing fruit. A balanced
fertilizer (10-10-10) is often recommended for eggplant. Feeding too much
nitrogen at this point can result in large, leafy plants that fail to produce
fruit.
Types of Eggplant Fertilizer
Fertilizers can be chemically manufactured or come from natural sources such as plant matter, animal manures, or minerals found in rock. Some gardeners prefer bagged fertilizers since the NPK rating is listed on the label. Aged manures, leaves, grass clippings, and compost from one’s own backyard or from neighboring properties can be obtained for free, but lack a guaranteed NPK analysis. This material can be worked into soil or used as a mulch.
Powdered, pelleted, or granular fertilizers can be applied as a side dressing between rows or to soil at the base of the eggplant. Fertilizer applied in this manner should be worked into the dirt to prevent heavy precipitation from splashing fertilizer onto the plant.
Since plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves,
foliar feeding eggplants is an alternative method for fertilizing. Eggplants
that are underperforming are the best candidates. Use a commercial liquid
fertilizer designed for foliar
feeding or make your own from diluted manure
tea. Apply this liquid as a fine spray, early in the morning when ambient
temperatures are cool.
Finally, when in doubt about how to fertilize eggplants,
gardeners can’t go wrong when choosing a quality tomato
fertilizer. Like tomatoes, eggplants are also members of the nightshade
family and have similar nutritional needs. Of course, feeding eggplants can
create a problem – it can make you the envy of all your eggplant loving
friends!
If you’re looking to harvest larger yields of eggplant,
fertilizer may help. Plants use energy from the sun and nutrients from the soil
for growth and food production. Some garden vegetables, like peas and beans,
need fewer added nutrients. Others, like eggplants,
are considered heavy feeders.
How to Fertilize Eggplants
Eggplants grow best in a compost-rich, fertile soil under
full sun. Feeding eggplants during their growing and fruiting stages improves
the overall health of the plant. Healthy plants produce larger fruit in greater
quantities. In addition, when growing some varieties of eggplant, fertilizer
may reduce bitterness caused by plant stress.
Many gardeners begin the growing season by incorporating
compost and fertilizer into the garden soil prior to planting. This gives young
eggplants a boost of nutrients for a healthy start. Having
garden soil tested takes the guesswork out of how much and what type of
fertilizer to use.
Soil testing provides an NPK analysis, which tells gardeners how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is needed to balance and amend their garden soil. Plants use nitrogen for green growth and the construction of chlorophyll. Phosphorus benefits the formation of new roots and is used in flower, fruit, and seed production. Potassium contributes to stem strength, disease resistance, and growth.
Periodic eggplant feeding during the growing season also
helps these heavy feeders with setting and producing fruit. A balanced
fertilizer (10-10-10) is often recommended for eggplant. Feeding too much
nitrogen at this point can result in large, leafy plants that fail to produce
fruit.
Types of Eggplant Fertilizer
Fertilizers can be chemically manufactured or come from natural sources such as plant matter, animal manures, or minerals found in rock. Some gardeners prefer bagged fertilizers since the NPK rating is listed on the label. Aged manures, leaves, grass clippings, and compost from one’s own backyard or from neighboring properties can be obtained for free, but lack a guaranteed NPK analysis. This material can be worked into soil or used as a mulch.
Powdered, pelleted, or granular fertilizers can be applied as a side dressing between rows or to soil at the base of the eggplant. Fertilizer applied in this manner should be worked into the dirt to prevent heavy precipitation from splashing fertilizer onto the plant.
Since plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves,
foliar feeding eggplants is an alternative method for fertilizing. Eggplants
that are underperforming are the best candidates. Use a commercial liquid
fertilizer designed for foliar
feeding or make your own from diluted manure
tea. Apply this liquid as a fine spray, early in the morning when ambient
temperatures are cool.
Finally, when in doubt about how to fertilize eggplants,
gardeners can’t go wrong when choosing a quality tomato
fertilizer. Like tomatoes, eggplants are also members of the nightshade
family and have similar nutritional needs. Of course, feeding eggplants can
create a problem – it can make you the envy of all your eggplant loving
friends!