How To Grow Brinjal/Eggplants In Pots Or Containers In India.

Brinjals also commonly known as Eggplants or Aubergines are an edible species of solanum (nightshade) that are native to Tropical Asia.They are perennials. They are a popular garden vegetable and every country practically has its own  Eggplant recipe.They can be roasted,grilled,fried,stuffed,stewed and some times young tender eggplants/brinjals are even eaten raw.Eggplants/Brinjals are loaded with Iron and other minerals.Brinjals/Eggplants come in an array of colors and shapes.They can also be easily grown in pots or containers. Brinjals need at atleast 6 hrs of direct sunlight to grow.Below are a few tips and tricks on growing Brinjals/Eggplants successfully in pots or containers.

Best time to start seeds in in the first week of June.I had used 50:50 mix of cocopeat and garden soil as the seed starter mix.I filled a seedling tray with the mix and sowed different types of eggplant seeds.Do not sow more than 2 seeds per cell.I watered with a spray bottle and the seedlings sprouted after 10 days.You can also try direct sowing method,sow the seeds directly into the container or pot about 2 cms deep,remember that tiny seeds like eggplants/brinjals should not be sown too deep or else they will not germinate.

When the saplings develop their first pair of true leaves they are ready to be transplanted into bigger pots or containers.Loosen the soil around the edges of the cell of the seed tray and slowly and carefully scoop out the sapling using the back of a spoon, take your time and don't rush this way the chances of causing any damage to the delicate roots of the eggplant/brinjal saplings is lessened.

You can prepare the potting soil by mixing cocopeat,garden soil,compost manure and vermi compost in equal quantities.Make sure the pot or container has water drainage holes at the base.Line the base with straw or dry leaves you can also use brick pieces,then fill the pot or container with the potting soil,always leave two inches or so of space from the top,never fill the soil till the brim.Now carefully plant the saplings into the pot or container.Space the saplings 10 inches apart from each other.Place it in a spot that receives full sunlight.Water everyday and remember that Eggplants/Brinjals have a shallow root system,if you skip watering your plants they might develop root rot,blossom end rot or leathery fruit later on,also water logging will kill the saplings so make sure that water runs or drains off easily,or else the saplings may succumb to root rot and other fungal diseases.The soil needs to stay moist at all times.Best way to check is by sticking your finger almost an inch or two into the soil to see if its dry or moist,you can then water accordingly.

Once your plants are well established they will grow and flourish in a matter of time depending on the variety of seeds you choose.Some varieties fruit early while some take a lot of time.When watering the young plants make sure you stay away from the leaves,to prevent disease.

Eggplants/Brinjals are heavy feeders however avoid adding fertilizers with hight nitrogen levels in it as this will result in more green foliage rather than the fruit itself.You can fertilize the plants with liquid fertilizers once the first blooms start to appear on the plant.Seaweed ,Vermi wash,Fish Emulsions are great liquid fertilizer options to choose from.

Flea beetles and borers  are the most common pest that infects eggplant/brinjal plants they make holes in the leaves and fruits,other pests that attack the plants are spider mites,aphids,white flies and mealy bugs,they usually hide under the leaves so always make it a point to check the underside of the leaves for any sort of pest activity.Diluted vermiwash or cow urine can be sprayed on the infected plants,make sure you spray the plants before sunrise or after sunset to avoid sunburns on the leaves. 

Eggplants/Brinjals are self pollinating which means that the plants has both male and female flowers.Eggplants/Brinjals need to be harvested when they are glossy and shiny once the color gets dull or the fruit stays to long on the plant the seeds from within will start to mature,so its important to pick the Eggplants/Brinjals while they are young and tender,picking also ensures that the plant keeps on producing more flowers and more eggplants/brinjals.Always cut close to the top stem away from the calyx using a clean and sharp scissor/knife/cutter etc.Be careful of varieties that have thorns on them or else you may poke yourself.

Bees love the beautiful delicate star shaped flowers of the eggplant/brinjal and are easily attracted by them,bees help in pollination.So a good tip to keep in mind is to not plant different varieties of eggplants in one spot or place the pots or containers close together to avoid cross pollination in case you tend to save seeds for your next growing season from heirloom varieties.

You may consider staking and training you eggplant/brinjal plants depending on the type/variety that you choose to grow.Some varieties produce a bountiful number of eggplants on each stem ,which may cause the stems to bend and break with the weight so you can stake such plants to avoid any damage or breakage.Eggplants/brinjals don't really need to be pruned,you can remove yellow leaves from the bottom of the plant to keep it looking neat, tidy and green.

Mulching the plants can help retain soil moisture and prevent weeds from growing ,but i skipped mulching my eggplants/Brinjals and they are doing just fine but the choice is yours.Loosen the soil and add  a handful of compost or composted cow manure or any other fertilizer, after every harvest and each time the plant puts out new sets of flowers.

To save seeds simply leave the last eggplant/brinjal on the plant to mature and turn yellow, once the eggplant/brinjal has matured cut it using a pair of garden scissors,slit the eggplant/brinjal in half and gently scrape out the seeds using the back of a spoon into a mesh or sieve,wash under running tap water to remove traces of flesh or pulp, spread the seeds on a tissue paper allow to air dry, then store in a clean dry zip lock bags or bottles in a cool and dry place and  label with the date and variety. 

Below is a picture of my little harvest of organically grown eggplants/brinjals from my potted garden.I have three varieties purple long, purple and white stripes and green eggplants/brinjals growing.

                                      Till Then Happy Gardening ☺