Eggplant

Land Preparation
Prepare the land by plowing and harrowing twice. Mix
decomposed animal manure or compost at 1.0 kg/linear
meter to improve soil structure and condition. Incorporate
300-400 kg complete fertilizer as basal. Make furrows 1.5
meters apart. Application of lime one month before
transplanting is recommended at a rate of 3-5 tons/ha if soil
pH is below 5.6..
Another option to furrow planting is planting eggplant in
beds. It is usually 0.7 m wide and 20.0 cm high above the
ground. Holes are made 0.75 m apart. Beds are covered
with plastic mulch to minimize erosion especially during the
rainy season and to control the growth of weeds.
Seedling Production
It is recommended to use seedling trays in growing of
seedlings. This facilitates easy maintenance of the seedlings
and efficient transplanting without disturbing the root
system. Seedling trays should be filled with a good sowing
medium such as peat moss, commercial potting soil or a
mixture of sand, garden soil and coir dust (1:1:2).
Sowing
1. One hectare requires 150 to 200 grams of seeds.
2. Sow the seeds directly into the tray and cover lightly
with soil. The seeds germinate 7-10 days after sowing.
Seedling Fertilization
The following is the recommended fertilization schedule for
seedling growing.
DAS Application Fertilizer and Fungicide
0, 7, 14,
21, 28
Drenching CaNO3 or Crop Giant (19-19-19) or Peters (30-10-10) at 40g/16 L
Fungicide (a.i. propamocarb hydrochloride at 40ml/ 16 L
1. It is recommended to alternately use CaNO3 (calcium
nitrate), Crop Giant and Peters because the last two
fertilizers also contains micronutrients to support
seedling growth.
2. Seedlings should be hardened 5-7 days before
transplanting by decreasing the amount of water and
exposing them to direct sunlight. This acclimatizes and
prepares the plant to withstand harsh condition in the
field.
3. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting four to five
weeks after sowing.
Transplanting
1. Irrigate the field before transplanting. Transplant the
seedlings at 0.75 m between hills by 1.5 meter
between furrows. From the seedling tray, carefully
remove the seedlings with the soil and the roots intact
to facilitate crop recovery and minimize transplanting
shock. It is recommended to do the transplanting in the
afternoon.
2. When transplanting in beds, distribute each seedling
into the prepared hills and cover with soil.
Irrigation and Drainage
If rainfall is insufficient, irrigation starts immediately after
transplanting and is repeated as often as needed, usually
with an interval of 5-7 days during the dry months. The soil
must be moist at all times but water lagging must be
avoided. Allow excess water to drain from the field
immediately.
Fertilization
The following is the recommended fertilization
schedule.
Days after Transplanting
Method of
Application
Fertilizer Material Amount
0, 3, 5 Drench Dissolved CaNO3 or 18-
46-0
7.5 g/ 1 L
water
7 Side-dress Complete 15.0g/ hill
21 Side-dress Urea 15.0 g/ hill
35 days and succeeding appl'n
at 2-3 weeks interval
Side-dress Equal ratio of Urea and
0-0-60 or Complete
20.0 g/ hill
Note: 1 tbsp is approximately 10.0 grams
Reduce fertilizer application when plants are soon to be
terminated.
Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling
Harvest the fruits once they have reached sufficient size for
marketing (usually 2-3 weeks after flowering). Harvesting is
done carefully by hand or using a sharp knife, with the calyx
attached to the fruit. This could be done once or twice a
week, preferably early in the morning.

Sort the fruits according to market standards. Pack the
fruits neatly in a polyethylene bag before transporting to the
market.