Eggplant starting from seed

cjp1953 · May 7, 2017

I'm in NorthEast Ohio,have my tomato and pepper seedlings around 6 inches tall.Mt cucumbers plants started last week are up and doing fine.It came to me last night that I forgot to start some eggplant seeds.I have never started these from seed before,is it too late now?I plan on planting everything at the end of the month.

Worth1 · May 7, 2017

I would almost say so but would rather let people in your area chime in.
Worth

PhilaGardener · May 7, 2017

Getting late but with our cool weather of late probably OK. My eggplant seedlings are hardened off but pretty much sitting there at the moment with our nights in the 40-50s. Give them warmth and bottom heat if you can and they will catch up!

cjp1953 · May 7, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

Getting late but with our cool weather of late probably OK. My eggplant seedlings are hardened off but pretty much sitting there at the moment with our nights in the 40-50s. Give them warmth and bottom heat if you can and they will catch up!

I started to peat pots with a seed in each one.Have them sitting in a south window.Having sunshine today.I think the whole week looks dry with temps in the 50's and 60's during the day but around high 30's at night for a few days.I'm starting to harden off my tomato and pepper plants to day.It's around 55 out now with sun.I have them in the garage with the door open in the sun inside a clear rubbermaid container.I have a thermometer inside the container showing around 65 degrees.I'll leave them out there a few hours and back in the basement under lights.A few hours each day,extra hour each day and they should be good in a week.Then I can keep them in the garage at night as long as it stays in the 50's or higher.

Nematode · May 7, 2017

Keep them warm and they will come along faster.
A low tunnel does wonders for the cool spring months.

Zeedman · May 8, 2017

Probably too late if you intended to save seed, but if you start them immediately, there should be time to harvest some in the immature stage.

greenthumbomaha · May 8, 2017

Eggplants are slower growers than tomatoes, and as Nematode said they like heat and warm soil much more than tomatoes.

I start my seeds very early, Feb-March. They are now sized for plant out but the soil temp is borderline. It's a balancing act. If you wait too long to plant out, they won't have time to set fruit and ripen. Sometimes all I get is a huge plant with giant blossoms.

Personally, I would buy a quality plant as insurance to get a ripe fruit this year. Then you can enjoy your seeded eggplants as bonuses and share with friends if they
produce.

- Lisa

cjp1953 · May 9, 2017

I thought about buying a plant or two.This is the first time I tried growing them from seed.Thanks to everyone for your answers and advice.

May 7, 2017	#1
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	Eggplant starting from seed I'm in NorthEast Ohio,have my tomato and pepper seedlings around 6 inches tall.Mt cucumbers plants started last week are up and doing fine.It came to me last night that I forgot to start some eggplant seeds.I have never started these from seed before,is it too late now?I plan on planting everything at the end of the month.

May 7, 2017	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I would almost say so but would rather let people in your area chime in. Worth

May 7, 2017	#3
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Getting late but with our cool weather of late probably OK. My eggplant seedlings are hardened off but pretty much sitting there at the moment with our nights in the 40-50s. Give them warmth and bottom heat if you can and they will catch up!

May 7, 2017	#5
Nematode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: massachusetts Posts: 1,710	Keep them warm and they will come along faster. A low tunnel does wonders for the cool spring months.

May 8, 2017	#6
Zeedman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 313	Probably too late if you intended to save seed, but if you start them immediately, there should be time to harvest some in the immature stage.

May 8, 2017	#7
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	Eggplants are slower growers than tomatoes, and as Nematode said they like heat and warm soil much more than tomatoes. I start my seeds very early, Feb-March. They are now sized for plant out but the soil temp is borderline. It's a balancing act. If you wait too long to plant out, they won't have time to set fruit and ripen. Sometimes all I get is a huge plant with giant blossoms. Personally, I would buy a quality plant as insurance to get a ripe fruit this year. Then you can enjoy your seeded eggplants as bonuses and share with friends if they produce. - Lisa

May 9, 2017	#8
cjp1953 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio Posts: 818	I thought about buying a plant or two.This is the first time I tried growing them from seed.Thanks to everyone for your answers and advice.