🍆 Eggplant
🍴 Overview
Crop: Eggplant
Common Varieties in OK: ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Ichiban’, ‘Rosa Bianca’, ‘Fairy Tale’
Planting Season: Late spring (after soil is consistently warm)
Days to Maturity: 70–85 days
🎨 Trait Legend
🟨 Warm-season – Needs heat to thrive
🌱 Fruiting crop – Harvested for edible fruit
☀️ Full sun – Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight
🚫 No replant – Sensitive to transplanting; start indoors or buy seedlings
📏 Spacing & Soil
Row Spacing: 30–36 inches
Plant Spacing: 18–24 inches
Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil with compost, pH 5.8–6.5
Fertilizer: Nitrogen-rich at planting, then balanced (5-10-10) as fruit sets
🌱 Cultivars We Recommend
‘Black Beauty’ 🟨
Classic variety. Big, glossy fruits. Grows well in Oklahoma heat.
‘Ichiban’ 🟨
Slim, tender Japanese type. Heavy producer.
‘Rosa Bianca’ 🟨
Beautiful heirloom with creamy, mild flavor. Great roasted.
‘Fairy Tale’ 🟨
Mini-sized, striped fruits. Very tender and ornamental too.
🧠 Tips
Prefers raised beds or black plastic to warm soil early
Mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds
Stake or cage plants to support heavy fruit
Harvest while skin is glossy — dull skin means overripe
Flea beetles love eggplant — row covers or neem oil help