skip to main content

Vegetable Gardening

Eggplant Problems (Japanese & Blackbeauty)

newtogardening99

15 years ago

Hello -

I have two different varieties of eggplants (Ichiban Japanese and Black Beauty). Both varieties were planted at the same time but I am now noticing the following things happen with the plants.

1. The Ichiban eggplants(Japanese) were really doing well and then they started setting fruit. Each plant produced about 2 eggplants each and now I see that there are very few leaves and the plant doesn't look healthy at all. There are no new flowers that are being produced and new leaves are not being produced either.

2. The Black Beauty eggplants have the opposite problem. The are growing rapidly, the leaves look very healthy and it is producing flowers but nothing is being set into fruit.

How can I remedy these two problems?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

justuscountryfolks
15 years ago
You may or may not have a problem with your eggplants but it could be just the heat that is making them act the way you described. It is extremely hot and very dry here in my area. Temps in the upper 90's daily and no rain in weeks.
I grow the Ichiban's every year and have been very successfull with them. I transplant them as early as possible when things are warming up in early spring and usually have 18-24 plants. The production is good until this time of the year when it gets really hot and will just about stop production until late August and once the temperture cools off some they start to produce really good in the fall. At present my plants look like they have had it but this is just normal at this time of the season. I just keep taking care of the plants as needed. Keeping them watered and keeping the bugs off as much as possible.

I use to plant the bell type eggplants but have been only growing the Ichiban for some time as they are so productive and are very good.

Happy Gardening
0
penguingardener
15 years ago
Has your weather been fluctuating a bit? I grew both Ichiban and Black Beauty last year and I didn't notice them having parallel production results. I certainly had more yields from the Ichiban than from the Black Beauty and BB did seem to take longer to fruit. But when we'd have hot and humid then cool-ish weather and then hot again, their production was a little slow. Perhaps when the weather provides more consistent warm/hot weather, especially for zone 5, they may be happier.

Just a guess.
0
Related Discussions
Eggplant Problem
Q
Comments (2)
I sounds like blossom end rot, which affects tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I haven't experienced it with eggplant but, when my tomatoes have it, it seems to affect the early fruit mostly. Later fruit usually develop with no problem. Often a mineral deficiency, such as calcium, is cited. But I would just wait to see how subsequent fruit turn ou. Jim
...See More
Would the real Japanese eggplant please stand up?
Q
Comments (2)
While many folks associate Asian eggplants ( Japanese, Chinese, Korean) with long slender fruits, not all of them are. Of the Japanese cultivars, Dewako, Kamo, Kyota Egg, Mizuno Takumi, Black King are round. Money Maker and Konasu are half long. All of these and there are many more cultivars are dark purple. The light purple long types are usually associated with China. Of course Thailand and India contribute a lot of unusual cultivars, but most fall in the round, semi round category. To me the Asian eggplant in general has better flavor, but bitterness has never been a problem. Some of the Thai eggplants are supposed to be bitter, but I have not grown them. Money Maker Longship
...See More
Japanese eggplant just sitting there...!
Q
Comments (4)
Eggplants start to come in after the tomatoes here. I am growing Ichiban which always produces a lot and the plants are pretty healthy. It is not a bad idea to put them in a tomato cage or stake them even though they are self-supporting plants it is good to support the fruit so they hang straight down, otherwise they tend to curl up at the ends.
...See More
Eggplant Woes
Q
Comments (5)
Since it is growing in a pot, the most likely cause is a nutrient deficiency. Is your potting medium soil or a potting mix? I would suggest watering the pot with a complete soluble nutrient formula. If it is a potting mix instead of soil, it may not have the microbes necessary to break urea down into usable ammonium and nitrate ions, so you should use a urea-free formula like Better-Gro (obtainable at the Lowe's Home stores in the garden section, or online at many stores). The eggplant on the left was grown in the bottom part of a two-liter soft drink bottle, with Premier's Pro-Mix BX as the potting mix, and it was fed with Better-Gro supplemented with a little calcium nitrate. (Like many soluble nutrient formulas, Better-Gro does not contain calcium.) That eggplant plant was too big for the pot and root-bound, and the lower leaves were beginning to show signs of a deficiency (not the same as yours), but the plant was in flower. I set it into the garden shortly after that picture was taken, and it grew nicely. If your potting medium is soil or contains some soil, I would recommend Miracle-Gro. For an eggplant, I think the Miracle-Gro Tomato Food would be best. And if your potting soil doesn't contain a lot of calcium, the Miracle-Gro will need to be supplemented with some Calcium Nitrate. ZM
...See More
newtogardening99
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your reponses. That was my guess as well. The weather has been sort of unpredictable lately. Well first we got too much rain, then hail, then it got hot and humid then last night, the air felt cold (like it feels in late Fall/early Spring). I am going to wait and watch I guess....
0
marshall727
15 years ago
I'm having a similar problem. The Black Beauty has lots of flowers, but no signs of fruit. The weather in my area (zone 10) has been steadily 75 degrees with a mix of sun/fog and no rain. The plants get watered on average 2-3 times per week and appear healthy.

Any thoughts?
0
farmerdilla
15 years ago
Concur, Black Beauty is a big plant and quite a bit later to maturity than Ichiban.
0

Related Stories

SUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES How to Grow Eggplant at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant glossy purple eggplant as much for its beauty in the garden as its flavor on the plate

0

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Recipe for Asian Edible Garden Style

A surprising number of food plants are hiding out in Asian-themed landscapes. Add a few more and extend the Zen flavor to the kitchen

FALL GARDENING 7 Reasons Not to Clean Up Your Fall Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

REMODELING GUIDES Original Home Details: What to Keep, What to Cast Off

By Laura Gaskill

Renovate an older home without regrets with this insight on the details worth preserving

BATHROOM DESIGN 7 Striking Paint Colors for Your Powder Room

By Jennifer Ott Design

Whether you opt for a little or a lot, see why the petite bathroom is the perfect place for a fun hue

COLOR 21 Reasons to Decorate With Purple

Whatever shade you choose — lilac, plum, mauve or aubergine — purple makes a statement

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING World of Design: 10 Home Gardeners Show Us Their Sweet Summer Harvests

From New York to Tokyo, these gardeners have turned their yards, terraces and rooftops into places of bounty

PETS Houzz Call: Send in the Design Cats

By Sheila Schmitz

Post your best photo of your cat at home, in the garden or with you in your studio. It could be published in a featured ideabook

Sponsored

DelCo Handyman & Remodeling LLC

Franklin County's Remodeling & Handyman Services

More Discussions

Tiny leaf bite marks

15

Confused about overwintered potato plants

3

More bite marks

2

Slugs war won, kinda

32

How do you make a tomato cage bigger

9