Yes, eggplants in containers can thrive and produce great harvests. Give them the right pot, soil, and care. You will find that container growing offers perks that ground planting cannot match.
I have grown eggplants on my patio for the past six summers. My container plants beat my garden-bed plants each season. The dark-colored pots I use soak up heat from the sun. The soil gets several degrees warmer than the ground nearby. This extra warmth pushes my plants into fruit about two weeks ahead of their in-ground neighbors.
A container eggplant works well for many reasons. You can roll pots around to chase the sun all day. Move them into your garage when frost comes. Container soil warms up faster in spring, so your plants get a head start on the season.
Drainage headaches that hit garden beds go away when you control the mix. Fill your pots with loose, rich soil that drains fast. Add perlite or sand if your mix feels too dense and heavy. Good drainage keeps your roots healthy all season long.
Pot size matters more than most folks think. Use at least a 5-gallon container for each plant. A 7-10 gallon pot works even better for bigger yields. Your pots must have holes in the bottom. Without them, your roots sit in water and rot fast.
Growing eggplant in pots means more watering than ground plants need. Container soil dries out fast in summer heat. Check your pots each morning. Water daily when temps climb above 85°F (29°C). Your soil should feel damp but not soaked.
I use a simple finger test to check moisture. Stick your finger two inches into the soil. If it feels dry at that depth, water right away. If it still feels damp, wait another day before you water again.
Pick patio eggplant varieties bred for small spaces. Fairy Tale makes clusters of pretty purple-and-white striped fruits. The plants stay under two feet tall. Hansel and Gretel yield slim finger eggplants that taste great on your grill. Patio Baby grows just 18 inches high and sets fruit even in cool weather.
Full-sized varieties can work in pots too. You just need bigger containers. Black Beauty needs at least a 10-gallon pot to reach its full size. Stake these larger plants to keep them from tipping over when loaded with fruit.
Feed your container plants more often than garden ones. Nutrients wash out of pots with each watering. Give them a liquid fertilizer every two weeks in the growing season. You can also use slow-release pellets when you first plant.
Dark pots work better than light ones for this crop. Black, brown, and dark green containers soak up sun. They create the warm root zone that your eggplants love. Skip white or silver pots that bounce heat away from your roots.
Set your pots against a wall that faces south for the best heat. The wall sends warmth back to your plants at night. This extends your good growing time each day. Put pots on stone or concrete patios that hold heat better than wood decks.
When I first started growing eggplants in pots, I made the mistake of using small containers. My plants looked sad all summer. Once I switched to larger pots, my harvests tripled. You will see the same results when you give your plants enough room.
Container growing lets anyone with a sunny spot grow eggplants. Grab a compact variety. Choose a large dark pot. Stay on top of your water needs. Your plants will give you fresh fruit all summer long.
Read the full article: Growing Eggplant: Professional Tips for Larger Harvests
