Growing Eggplant: Heat, Sun & Moisture for a Bountiful Harvest

Eggplants (common 'Black Beauty' and many others) are easy, productive, and versatile in the kitchen. A couple of plants feed a family all season.

Keys to Success

• Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost in a portable greenhouse (<$5).
• Soil temp: 80–90°F. Mulch with fresh grass clippings to retain heat.
• Full sun is non-negotiable.
• Heavy watering: Don't neighbor with drought-tolerant crops. Good companions: beans, peas, peppers, potatoes.
• Soil pH: 5–7 range.

If you love eggplant parmesan, grow your own—it's simpler than you think.