Growing eggplants indoors in the winter?

jgaleota · October 5, 2011

There is a very interesting thread in "Container Gardening" entitled "Indoor Winter Tomato Project". There are quite a few people trying to grow tomatoes indoors. Has anyone ever tried to grow eggplant indoors in the winter?

Judi

lakelady · October 8, 2011

Well, I have one that was very small that I took indoors a week ago (the colder nights are causing some of the ones still in pots to wilt badly). This week it produced flowers! I had buds on it but wasn't sure if it would do much and surprisingly, it has. The plants stay short and bushy, so I don't really see why you couldn't. Lots of water and fertilizer did well for mine that were potted outdoors. Let us know if you do how it goes.

Keiththibodeaux · October 8, 2011

As much as Eggplants love heat, I can't imagine this being successful. Like trying to grow Okra indoors, but worse.

Tania · October 9, 2011

It may work, if you supply lots of additional light.

The main issue with growing eggplants indoors is aphids. Somehow they just love the eggplants, and if you get them, they are very hard to get rid of.

jgaleota · October 10, 2011

Lakelady, that sounds promising. I will let you know if it works (probably sometime in Jan.)!
Tania,
I hadn't thought of apids. It would really be a bummer to infest all of my houseplants, or do aphids also attack them?

lakelady · October 11, 2011

perhaps you can be ready with sticky traps or something before the aphids come round...and yes, they can get at other plants too.

jgaleota · October 11, 2011

Good idea! Thanks.

October 5, 2011	#1
jgaleota Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 133	Growing eggplants indoors in the winter? There is a very interesting thread in "Container Gardening" entitled "Indoor Winter Tomato Project". There are quite a few people trying to grow tomatoes indoors. Has anyone ever tried to grow eggplant indoors in the winter? Judi

October 9, 2011	#4
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	It may work, if you supply lots of additional light. The main issue with growing eggplants indoors is aphids. Somehow they just love the eggplants, and if you get them, they are very hard to get rid of. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

October 8, 2011	#2
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Well, I have one that was very small that I took indoors a week ago (the colder nights are causing some of the ones still in pots to wilt badly). This week it produced flowers! I had buds on it but wasn't sure if it would do much and surprisingly, it has. The plants stay short and bushy, so I don't really see why you couldn't. Lots of water and fertilizer did well for mine that were potted outdoors. Let us know if you do how it goes.

October 8, 2011	#3
Keiththibodeaux Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Louisiana Posts: 587	As much as Eggplants love heat, I can't imagine this being successful. Like trying to grow Okra indoors, but worse.

October 10, 2011	#5
jgaleota Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 133	Lakelady, that sounds promising. I will let you know if it works (probably sometime in Jan.)! Tania, I hadn't thought of apids. It would really be a bummer to infest all of my houseplants, or do aphids also attack them?

October 11, 2011	#6
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	perhaps you can be ready with sticky traps or something before the aphids come round...and yes, they can get at other plants too.