This is another installment about growing vegetables in containers. Click on Gardening Tutorials to see more in the series.
I have been growing eggplant in containers for at least 15 years now. It’s a great way for those without a garden spot to grow them, or for folks like me who want to get a jump on the season before the plants in the garden start to bear. Eggplants love the heat, and the soil in containers warms up before it does in the garden. It’s also a good way for short-season gardeners to grow them.
container grown eggplant
I did my first tutorial about growing eggplant in containers back in 2012. I’ve been growing them in containers every year since then, but I have changed my methods a bit. I originally only used large plastic pots, ones 12 to 16 inches in diameter. But in recent years I have started using Smart Pot grow bags as well, and they have proven to also give good results.
container eggplants
To grow eggplant in containers, I start with a pot that’s at least 12 inches in diameter, though I think a 14 inch pot makes for bigger plants and less watering. The 10 gallon Smart Pots I use are 16 inches in diameter, and while it takes more soil to fill them initially, I find they also make for bigger plants and therefore generally higher yields.
eggplants in containers
I use a high quality organic potting soil mix for the containers, adding compost and a handful of organic fertilizer like Fox Farm, Espoma or Dr. Earth. Chemical fertilizers are prone to burn the roots of tender seedlings, so I never use those in the containers. The organic ones also release their nutrients slowly, and I find I don’t have to add fertilizer later on in the growing season. Watering them with a seaweed/fish emulsion mix at planting time will also help to get them off to a good start.
Smart Pots with eggplant
Since it takes a lot of soil to fill the containers, and potting soil is expensive, I have found I can reuse the soil for several years as long as I add a liberal helping of compost and some fertilizer each year, mixed in well with the old potting soil. Before planting I remove any weeds and the old roots, and add enough compost to fill the container with the mix.
Gretel eggplant
I tend to grow eggplant varieties that were bred for growing in containers, and over the years I’ve grown Hansel, Gretel, Fairy Tale, Patio Baby and Icicle with good success. The small-fruited varieties are tasty in the kitchen and just as useful as the bigger ones. Icicle is the big white one in the below photo, and is mild tasting and tender. All five of these varieties are AAS Winners, and likely to give good results to gardeners all over.
Icicle, Fairy Tale and Gretel eggplant
Patio Baby and Fairy Tale eggplants
One disadvantage to growing them in containers is true for all container grown plants – they need frequent watering. Self watering containers can help, though they are usually more expensive. I do have a few of those I use. And I like to sit the regular plastic pots in a saucer, which can be kept full of water and helps to keep the container moist.
eggplant pot in saucer
Eggplants grown in containers tend to have the same pests as those grown in-ground, but they are less likely to suffer from soil-born diseases. In our area, the biggest pest we have is the flea beetle, which can be controlled with organic or chemical pesticides labeled for use on eggplants.
If you’re not already growing eggplant, container planting is an easy way to add it to your garden harvests. And if you’re having problems with it in the vegetable garden, growing it in containers might help!
