specialty eggplant
Other Common Names Include:
Aubergine, Brinjal
Latin Name: Solanum melongena
Plant Family: Solanaceae
Close Relatives: Tomatillo, goji, pepper, potato, and tomato.
Uses and Markets: Culinary (e.g. cooked and used alone, in salads or in main dishes). Uses vary considerably between different countries and regions depending on the variety grown. Primarily used in Mediterranean, African, Middle Eastern, and south and east Asian cuisines.
Production Life Cycle in Ontario
Annual
Hardiness Zone
N/A
Special Notes
Agronomic requirements of Asian eggplants are similar to those of European varieties. For general agronomic requirements for eggplant consult the OMAFRA vegetable guides.
Propagation method
Transplants from seed.
Greenhouse Seeding/Propagation Dates
5-7 weeks before transplanting.
Field Seeding Date:
N/A
Field Transplanting Dates
Late spring, after risk of frost.
In-row spacing
45-60 cm
Between row spacing
90-120 cm
Optimal Soil temperature at planting
>15°C
Fertility
Apply up to 70kg N/ha. Broadcast 35 kg N/ha and all the required phosphate and potash before planting. The remainder of the nitrogen should be side-dressed 3-4 weeks after transplanting. Click here for phosphorus and potassium application guidelines and for more information on specialty crop fertility.
Soil type
Well-drained soils; sandy loam soils with relatively high organic matter.
Soil pH
5.5-6.5
Special requirements for growth habit
Plastic mulch is beneficial.
Optimal Temperature Range
21-27°C
Temperature sensitivity
Frost sensitive; Cold sensitive (fruit below 8°C).
Irrigation requirements
Irrigation beneficial under normal Ontario conditions.
Days to harvest
55-80 days
Specialized equipment:
None
Harvest
Harvest Scheduling
Multiple harvests from the same planting.
Hand harvest or machine harvest
Hand harvest
Quality parameters/grades
No established grades. Quality is determined by the market. Different markets prefer different size/maturity of eggplant. Market research is essential prior to growing specialty eggplant.
Additional Harvest Notes
Harvest during cooler parts of the day to reduce moisture loss and cooling costs. Remove field heat as soon as possible after harvest.
Post harvest
Special handling/curing
None
Storage Conditions
Relative humidity (RH): 90-95% (fresh leaves)
Temperature: 8-12°C
Air Exchange: N/A
Duration: 7 days
Specific pests observed on this crop in Ontario (observations based on limited experience with this crop)
Insects and Invertebrates: Colorado potato beetle, cutworms, tarnished plant bug, wireworms, aphids, flea beetles
Diseases: Verticillium wilt, Damping-off and root rots, anthracnose, early blight and Phomopsis blight.
Other Potential Pests: The following pests have not been observed on this crop in Ontario. However, they are either significant concerns for closely related plants in Ontario, or are reported on this crop in other production areas. This is not a comprehensive list of all potential pests. Not all of these pests will necessarily survive Ontario’s climate, but could potentially survive in a protected environment (e.g. greenhouse, storage facility).
Insects and Invertebrates: Sap beetles.
Diseases: Bacterial soft rot, bacterial wilt, aster yellows, tobacco mosaic virus.
Comments
To date the following pests have been the most significant in Ontario: Colorado potato beetle and Verticillium wilt. Specialty eggplant is susceptible to many of the same pests as conventional varieties of eggplant. Specialty eggplants in the species Solanum melongena are in Crop Groups 8 and 8-09: Fruiting Vegetables (except Cucurbits) and subgroups 8-09B: Pepper/Eggplant and 8-09C: Nonbell Pepper/Eggplant. For more information on Crop Groups, refer to the Pest section. Always refer to product labels, and follow all directions specified on the label, before applying any pest control product. For more information, consult an OMAFRA specialist. Pest control products registered on eggplant, Solanum melongena, can be applied to this crop. For pest control products registered on eggplant, Solanum melongena, refer to OMAFRA Publication 838 Vegetable Crop Protection Guide.
None
- Bilal, A. and M. Brownbridge. 2010-2012. World crops project. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, unpublished.
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., and S. Westerveld. 2009. Non-traditional crops demonstration garden. OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Elford, E., Filotas, M., Todd, J., Westerveld, S., Bilal, A., and M. Brownbridge. 2010. World crops variety trials and demonstration. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre/OMAFRA Simcoe Resource Centre, unpublished.
- Howard, R.J., Garland, J.A., and W.L. Seaman (eds.). 1994. Diseases and pests of vegetable crops in Canada: an illustrated compendium. Canadian Phytopathological Society and the Entomological Society of Canada.
- Munro, D.B., and E. Small. 1997. Vegetables of Canada. NRC Research Press, Ottawa.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2010. Vegetable production recommendations. Publication 363, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto.
- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2012. Vegetable Crop Protection Guide. Publication 838, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, Toronto.
