Over Wintering Egg Plant?

RJ_Hythloday · August 27, 2009

I'm going to over winter some peppers this year for the first time. I understand that in tropical climes egg plant can be a perennial - so can toms and peppers.

I'm just wondering if any one here has sucessfully over wintered an egg plant?

I guess I'd have nothing to lose to just chop it down to a cane, and stick it in some growing medium in the garage. I've only got one plant this year, or I'd try one unpruned under lights also.

mjc · August 27, 2009

I've done it...but be warned, the chances of bringing in flea beetles with it are very high. Did it in a pot, under lights. It didn't do much over the winter, but did put out fruit very early the next year.

RJ_Hythloday · August 27, 2009

I havne't seen any flea beatles in the garden. No leaf damage to the lone eggplant to date. I have my lights for seed starting, but am wondering about pruning it back to keep in the garage.

I'm guessing you've only done it the one way, leaves w/ lights - right?

Did you have flea beatle damage before bringing it in?

Nightshade · August 28, 2009

I overwintered some long purple container eggplants in my hoophouse. They didn't have any flea beetles and I didn't prune them. They produced heavily and early. I had fruit ready to harvest in mid June, and i'm sure i would have enjoyed them if i could have gotten to them before the critters.

One of those plants, now very tall, has since been moved into the corner spot of my sunporch, between two windows. It is blooming and fruiting again and it looks like I will get another 8 or 10 fruit off of it this year. Maybe more if i can prolong the present bloom cycle.

Jan

Templeton · August 28, 2009

I got a long asian eggplant through two winters. I pruned them back fairly hard at the end of the season, then put them under some poly hoop cloches. they set fruit much earlier, but looked pretty crook through the winter. Tried again this winter with long blacks and Bonica but it doesn't seem I've had much luck. My thai chillies are in their 4th or 5th year, and last year's sweet mama caps are going to make it too. The Habaneros died - a blessing really, since they were too hot to eat, and i didn't like the flavour either.
T

mjc · August 28, 2009

Yeah, just left it and didn't prune it back.

We have flea beetles everywhere around here...except in the 'grow room'...

I may dig one and bring it in, I'm planning on several peppers, so an eggplant won't make too much difference.

Blueaussi · August 28, 2009

I overwintered a couple of plants in a hoop house, and they did very well. Come spring they put out new leaves and commenced to producing fruit. They produced heavily all summer.

August 27, 2009	#1
RJ_Hythloday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Logan, UT Posts: 207	Over Wintering Egg Plant? I'm going to over winter some peppers this year for the first time. I understand that in tropical climes egg plant can be a perennial - so can toms and peppers. I'm just wondering if any one here has sucessfully over wintered an egg plant? I guess I'd have nothing to lose to just chop it down to a cane, and stick it in some growing medium in the garage. I've only got one plant this year, or I'd try one unpruned under lights also.

August 27, 2009	#2
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	I've done it...but be warned, the chances of bringing in flea beetles with it are very high. Did it in a pot, under lights. It didn't do much over the winter, but did put out fruit very early the next year.

August 28, 2009	#4
Nightshade Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: So. California Posts: 178	I overwintered some long purple container eggplants in my hoophouse. They didn't have any flea beetles and I didn't prune them. They produced heavily and early. I had fruit ready to harvest in mid June, and i'm sure i would have enjoyed them if i could have gotten to them before the critters. One of those plants, now very tall, has since been moved into the corner spot of my sunporch, between two windows. It is blooming and fruiting again and it looks like I will get another 8 or 10 fruit off of it this year. Maybe more if i can prolong the present bloom cycle. Jan

August 28, 2009	#5
Templeton Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: One Tree Hill, Bendigo Australia Posts: 87	I got a long asian eggplant through two winters. I pruned them back fairly hard at the end of the season, then put them under some poly hoop cloches. they set fruit much earlier, but looked pretty crook through the winter. Tried again this winter with long blacks and Bonica but it doesn't seem I've had much luck. My thai chillies are in their 4th or 5th year, and last year's sweet mama caps are going to make it too. The Habaneros died - a blessing really, since they were too hot to eat, and i didn't like the flavour either. T

August 28, 2009	#7
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	I overwintered a couple of plants in a hoop house, and they did very well. Come spring they put out new leaves and commenced to producing fruit. They produced heavily all summer.