Eggplants are delicate, tropical, perennial plants that are spongy, absorbent fruits used mainly as vegetables though they are typically berries. Scientifically, they are known as (solanum melongena) also known as aubergine.
Their color varies from white egg-shaped to purple in color. The white cultivars of the fruit of the eggplant are also known as garden eggs. They are also often referred to as vegetable eggs. Now eggplants can be planted in various ways, but our focus is on how they can be planted by soaking the seeds of the eggplant first. As part of their growth process, they require a long growing season and rich fertile soil.
Let us consider the following steps on how to soak the eggplants:
Why soak the seeds?
Note that soaking eggplants seeds before planting them gives the seed a better chance of growing well.
Soaking the eggplant plant seeds before planting
- The first thing is to get the egg plant seeds either from your garden store or previous harvest.
- Get a container and pour the seed into the container, then add some water to completely cover them.
- The egg plant seeds can be soaked in water for up to 24 hours. This soaking process helps to increase the germination of the seeds and helps the plants grow quickly.
- You can leave them overnight and then drain off the water by the next morning.
- They are now ready for planting.
How to plant the eggplants
1) Get your container containing your potting mix which can be bought or prepared by you. Note that they grow easily in containers.
2) Though they have tiny seeds, you can sow them about ½ to ¼ inch deep into your container filled with potting soil and spaced about 4 to 5 inches apart.
3) Cover the seeds with your soil and sprinkle some water on the surface to keep it moist.
4) Keep the containers where the temperature is very conducive about 60 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
5) Under good normal conditions, your eggplant seed should start germinating within six to twelve days.
6) Try to keep them warm, because the warmer they are the more it will speed up the germination process.
7) As the plants begin to germinate, you can then begin to prepare them for transplanting.
Requirements for growth
As you plan to transplant them into your garden, here are a few things to consider:
1) Ensure you have prepared your garden soil ahead by choosing and clearing the garden space.
2) When you want to plant them, ensure the planting holes are not too deep and fill them with water. Let the water drain before you put the eggplant in the holes and then cover them with the soil.
3) When transplanting them into the soil ensure that they are well spaced about 24-30 inches apart because they require space to grow.
4) Full sun: You need to select an area with full sunlight. This is because they require very high temperatures in order to grow well. At least 6 full hours of sunlight is needed to enable your plants to grow well.
5) They germinate well in well-drained soil. You must be on the lookout for this.
6) Soil PH must be slightly acidic to neutral.
7) Soil fertility: Ensure the soil is rich and must be very fertile. You can add your already prepared compost or fertilizer to the soil. You can also fertilize them for one to two weeks regularly.
8) Mulching: This can also help to retain moisture and keep pests away.
8) Always keep them well watered (don’t let the water dry out or overwater them) and keep them warm for proper growth. You can water them thoroughly every week.
Eggplants have a long growing season but you can know when they are ready for harvest when their skin becomes shiny.
Conclusion
I hope you find this article helpful. I would like to hear from you. So, let me know if you have any questions about soaking eggplant seeds in water for planting.
