Select a sunny site, away from trees and close to a water source if possible.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated fertilizer formulated for vegetables or and all-purpose feed (such as a fertilizer labeled 5-10-5).
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn’t loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the garden and shorter plants in the foreground.
Plan ahead for plants that get tall and require staking or support cages. It’s best to install cages early in the spring, at planting time, before the foliage gets bushy. Vining vegetables can occupy a lot of space, so provide a trell
My ivory eggplant has 9 little white eggplants. One is a bit larger than a baseball but its yellow? Is it bad or did I wait too long to harvest it?
Not sure what size ivory eggplant should be to harvest?
Hi James,
It does sound like you waited too long to harvest your “baseball” eggplant. Yellow skin on a white eggplant is a sign of overripening. Cutting the eggplant open will tell the tale; if the seeds are dark rather than white, it’s a sure sign the eggplant is overripe. Meanwhile, if your other 8 eggplants are currently white and the skin is glossy and firm, it sounds like they’re all ready for picking! Overripe eggplants can also develop a soft texture and bitter flavor, so another reason that you want to be sure to pick them at the right stage of ripeness. The ripe fruit of the ‘Ivory’ variety are “miniature” compared to other eggplant varieties and it is normal to have eggplants ripening as small as 3-4”.
This is my 1st time growing Ivory eggplants, right now I have several fruits growing on their plants, how do I know when to harvest them
Hi Deborah,
White eggplants are ready to harvest when the skin is white, glossy and firm. The ripe fruits of the ‘Ivory’ variety are “miniature” compared to other eggplant varieties and it is normal to have eggplants ripening as small as 3-4”. Yellow skin on a white eggplant is a sign of overripening, so you don’t want your eggplants turning yellow. Cutting the eggplant open can also be an indicator of ripeness; if the seeds are dark rather than white, it’s a sure sign the eggplant is overripe. Overripe eggplants can develop a soft texture and bitter flavor, so a good reason to be sure to pick them at the right stage of ripeness to enjoy the best flavor.
I’m interested in saving seeds from my Ivory eggplant to plant next year. Can I use an eggplant that is yellow and overripe?
Hi Kathy,
You actually want seeds from a slightly over-ripe squash to ensure that the seeds are fully developed. Be advised that the seed from any hybrid vegetable variety will give unpredictable results. ‘Ivory’ is an F1 hybrid, indicating that it is bred from two different parent plants. You’re probably going to get plants with the characteristics of one of the parents, but it could be fun to give it a try and see what mystery plants turn up. Any squash produced are likely to be just as desirable as the ‘Ivory’, just different.