Eggplant Setting Fruit

14 years ago

Hi everyone. I have a problem. This has been my first year gardening and everything has been going great except my eggplant. I believe I set it out a little earlier than it would have preferred. The plant became stunted and only grew a few inches from when I set it out until now.

It's about a foot and a half tall now with three small flower buds with no petals. Do you think it will set fruit at all before the end of August? Or should I give up all hope now?

By the way, I'm in zone 5, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Comments (11)

angela12345
14 years ago
I think it will set fruit. The eggplant likes it hot. Mine has just finally gotten into full production. My first one from bud to fruit took 21 days from June 24 to July 15. Now I have 6 more fruit on there that were not even there on July 15.

{{gwi:82983}}
ribbit32004
14 years ago
They're slow growers, that's for sure. Let it heat up and then they'll have a hay day. If it stays cool, just write them off and try again next year. This has been an abnormally cool summer for us here in GA. Of course, now that I've said that, August will be in the high 90's.
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cyrus_gardner
14 years ago
Considering you are in zone 5, it is fine to have your eggplant flowers. I am in zone 8 and my Japanes eggplants have fruits the size of finger.
As it mentioned, eggplants are slow and need really warm weather. They are perhaps the most warmth loving garden plants. So, just be patient.
gardener1908
14 years ago
I'm west of Kazoo, and my eggplants in my hoophouse are just now really starting got come along, ones in field are way behind. Some about the size of a softball, others maybe 6 inches long. They like it really warm, be patient and hopefully August will reward you. And remember, in gardening, NEVER GIVE UP HOPE!!
jkolantern
14 years ago
I was checking out my garden after spending almost a week away from it, and got super excited to see my first eggplant, about the size of a shooter marble (I'd had flowers for probably 3 weeks). Then, as I was on the phone bragging about it to my mom, I discovered that at the bottom of the plant right next to the one I was crowing about, I had a six inch eggplant! It's black beauty and so dark that I hadn't noticed it on a cursory inspection because it blended in with the soil. My first time growing it, so if mine can do it, yours can too! Two other plants put out at the same time barely have flowers, so I think it is up to the plants what they want to do, too. Good luck.
rj_hythloday
14 years ago
My firt egg plant is about the size of a soft ball, a little longer, it doesn't seem to be gaining any size so I think we'll eat it soon. Finally got lots of blossoms, the first blossoms all fell off except for this one that set, and now the plant has grown a foot in height also. Only one plant, more next year.
boothc9
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks everyone for the advice. You're all making me jealous, though! I'll be patient and hope August brings hot weather. Next year I'll be sure to start them extra early indoors and wait a good while to put them out.

In the meantime, I made vegan yellow squash parmesan instead of eggplant. I highly recommend it. Plus, anything to use up those summer squashes!
mauirose
14 years ago
i have some casper eggplants that are rumoured to do well in cooler temps. If you're in z5 they might be a way to extend the season.
boothc9
Original Author
14 years ago
Yes, that's another good point. Mine is a black beauty. I should look into better varieties for our shortened season.
lisazone6_ma
14 years ago
This is my very first time growing eggplant - I have two plants of "Little Prince" from Renee's Garden. They started flowering mid-July and I have 3-4 little fruits on one of them forming the size of marbles. Hopefully the other one will bear fruit as well as they both have lots of flowers. This is a "mini" variety - off the top of my head I forget the mature size of the fruit so I'll have to check. The plants themselves are in containers and are only about a foot and a half high. They're very healthy looking now, altho it took a while to get there - they were so small and just sat doing nothing for so long, were attacked by flea beetles, I really thought they'd kick the bucket! But now they're healthy looking plants. Can't wait to taste one!

Lisa
boothc9
Original Author
14 years ago
Here's an update. The first flower decided to bloom on an unusually hot 95 degree day. The eggplant dropped that flower. Now I have two buds still there and hopefully more will come. Highs here are expected to stay around the mid 80s for the next week and I'll hope beyond that. I'm not giving up hope!