The Incredible Edible Egg – Plant
The heat is cranking up in Florida, and now is the perfect time to get your eggplants going! Eggplants are heat loving plants that thrive in the summer months. Easy to care for, and pest free for the most part, eggplant is perfect for a container garden. Steady watering, occasional feeding, and a lot of sunshine will deliver a continuous supply of this beautiful vegetable.
Harvest the treasures when their skin is still glossy, and their color bright. An indication of over maturity is dull, leather-like shriveling skin, so make sure to pick them before your fruit show signs. Also, avoid letting your plant ‘over flower ‘. This will affect your crop quality and production.
There are many varieties of eggplant. Black, white, short and round, long and skinny, the list can go on and on. Whichever type you decide I don’t think you will be disappointed.
If eggplant just isn’t for you, it is still fun to grow, and just as fun to give to your friends! Junior farmers will love the quick, steady growth, and the pretty purple flowers!!
The Simple Life 2012 
Nothing beats fresh from the garden! Maybe we will try eggplant this year despite the fact that WA doesn’t all that hot. Thanks for the tip on when to pick the fruit – that really can make or break the harvest. Jeff makes this great “Eggplant Lasagna” with prosciutto, I’m salivating just thinking about it! Ohh. How many blooms per plant would you recommend?