Farmers’ Guide With Joseph Mugenyi: Tips On How To Grow Eggplants

By Joseph Mugenyi

Kibiito: Eggplant, aubergine or brinjal is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit.

Like the tomato, its skin and seeds can be eaten, but, like the potato, it is usually eaten cooked. Eggplant is nutritionally low in macronutrient and micronutrient content, but the capability of the fruit to absorb oils and flavors into its flesh through cooking expands its use in the culinary arts.

Egg plant varieties differ in size, shape, colour, growth,and maturity time.

The common varieties grown include;

1. Small fruits egg plants
2. Noveity egg plants
3. Japanese egg plants, Etc.

Egg plants don’t need a lot of care like other crops, they grow well in warm conditions and are tolerant to a wide range of soils.

Eggplants are planted using seeds.
Plant seeds in a nursery bed.

Seeds germinate after 7-10 days.
At 5cm tall you can now transplant seedlings to the main garden.

Place the transplanted seedlings into a hole of 5cm deep.
Space them at 5inches apart and a space of 30inches by rows.

You apply fertilizers to boost the plant growth.
Also use insecticides to control insects that attack them.

At least spray once or twice a month.
Proper weeding also helps control pests.

It takes 16-24 weeks to start harvesting.
Harvest when the fruit is big and soft.

Eggplants can be kept for two weeks or more when refrigerated.
Eggplants have market across the country.

Get all the agricultural information here bi-weekly. Mugenyi Joseph (MJ Farmer) is a practicing Agribusiness entrepreneur based in Kibiito and a software engineering student at Makerere University. He can be reached on 0701-443309, Email: mugenyijosemj@gmail.com