What would you like to plant in the garden? Maybe lettuce, tomatoes, aubergines? Of the latter, it is increasingly common to look for the Chinese eggplant, but do you know what it is like? And how is it different from the usual?
In this case we are going to talk about her. But also of all the keys that you must take into account about the cultivation of it. Shall we start?
How is the Chinese eggplant
The first thing you should know about the Chinese eggplant is that it is not the same as the ones you know. To begin with, it is much thinner than these. In addition, it is more elongated and its color is not so purple but a softer and lighter shade.
For all this you will think that it also changes in flavor, and the truth is that it does. As with onion and chives, the same is true of eggplant and Chinese brinjal. It has a milder flavor because, as it has fewer seeds, they do not give that bitter touch that you do find in other aubergines.
In other words, you might find that, If you don't like eggplants, these will fascinate you because they are not the same as the others.
Other names by which you can find this vegetable are: Asian eggplant, Nasubi, Japanese eggplant, Suriname...
How to grow Chinese eggplant in your garden
If after what we have told you you have been bitten by the itch to know what they taste like, and above all to grow them if you liked them when you tried them, How about we help you do it? To do this, you must take into account the following:
Get the seeds
Thanks to the Internet, this is easy because if you can't find them in the usual nurseries or stores where you buy, you can always choose to search the Internet to buy them. EITHER even through seed exchange forums.
Of course, follow the process to the letter so that they germinate well and not lose your money.
Location
The location of the Chinese eggplant depends a lot on the state it is in. If they are seeds that you have just planted, it is best to place them indoors for approximately 6-8 weeks to prevent the cold from deteriorating them. Heat is the key for these to germinate.
When you already have 2-3 leaves, you can start taking them outside, but always when the temperature does not drop below 21ºC.
Temperature
Speaking of temperatures, they are not plants that tolerate cold or frost. In fact, they are usually planted in March or April, when the cold has ended, so that they do not suffer or end up freezing (which may happen).
You shouldn't worry so much about the heat.
Substratum
The Chinese eggplant is a bit special in this regard. And it is that you need a soil that has a pH between 6,2 and 6,8. Besides, it must also contain drainage, which can be with perlite or with expanded clay (We recommend the latter because, being larger, it will allow the soil to oxygenate much better).
It doesn't matter if you plant it in a pot or in the ground (in your garden), but you should use this mixture of soil to get it to succeed (otherwise it may be difficult for it not to produce the production it should).
Irrigation
Irrigation is another care in which you should be careful. And it is that, to begin with, the plant does not grow too much, but as the eggplants grow, they can end up touching the ground and when watering, and being in contact with moisture, they can easily rot. Therefore, you must take into account the following:
Water because it needs a moist substrate to nourish itself well (more in summer).
Protect the fruits it bears, well with stakes or something similar to prevent the weight of the fruits from making them touch the ground.
Also in this way you will avoid the attraction of pests and insects towards them.
Subscriber
In general, Chinese eggplant does not usually need fertilizer because it has been planted with new soil that same year and it will have enough. But some professionals do use a little, even half the dose, to help it develop and have a higher production.
Note that, if the plant is small, this can cause it to overproduce and take a lot of quantity but of small size and average (or bad) quality.
Pruning
It doesn't really need pruning as such. Although, as a recommendation, we suggest the following:
Prune the branches and leaves that look deteriorated or that have been affected by pests to prevent this from spreading to other parts of the plant.
Cut the flowers and ripe eggplants so that the plant can relocate the energy in other fruits or in producing more eggplants. Keep in mind that we are not talking about a plant that bears fruit and that's it. If you are collecting them and it is still in season, it is normal for it to have another production again.
Plagues and diseases
This is where you will have to be careful, because they tend to attract many pests and animals that want to eat the Chinese eggplants. So you will need to protect them in some way to prevent them from being chopped or destroyed before you can harvest them.
Ants, beetles, fleas and other pests are the most common. That is why you will have to use a product to keep them at bay and, in case they are already on them, you will have to clean them and apply something to avoid them.
Multiplication
The only way to propagate Chinese brinjal is through the seeds of the fruits it bears. These can be saved until the following season to be planted in spring. Meanwhile, you will have to clean them, dry them and store them in a cool and dark place for when the good weather arrives and plant them to have a greater production of aubergines.
As you can see, the Chinese eggplant is not difficult to have in your garden. You just have to comply with what you need so that eggplants come out. Remember to cut as they mature because that will make the plant produce more until the end of the season.