If [ [ eggplant ] ] ( https://www.gardenguides.com/12410960-when-do-i-pick-japanese-eggplant.html)you likeeggplant(Solanummelongena ) and delight garden , then add’Ichiban ' eggplant(Solanum melongena’Ichiban ' ) to your vegetable plot of land . This variety belong to a radical sometimes called Nipponese or Oriental eggplant . Its fruits are thinner than standard - sized eggplant fruit and be given to be more balmy and flavorful , with thin , easily peeled skins . ' Ichiban ' eggplant is grown as an annual in all parts of the United States , needing only basic fear and a little extra tending now and then to flourish .
Seeds or Seedlings
' Ichiban ' eggplant is typical of all eggplant in growing well inwarm conditions , but it produces large numbers of 10 - inch - long , glowering - purple fruits in 50 to 60 days , unlike stock varieties that can take 70 days or tenacious . glean the eggplant while the outer cutis is glossy and not dense in color . Once the skin turns slow , the fruit is over - ripe , which lead to tartness in its flavor . Sterilize your pruning shears or a discriminating tongue by wiping the blades off with alcohol . This keep disease from being transferred to the plant . dress the eggplant from the plant , allow a little section of stem to continue attached to the eggplant . Pulling or squirm the eggplant off can stop the plant ’s root .
you could get ' Ichiban ' plants indoors from seeds , sowing the seminal fluid 1/4 inch deeply in soil - occupy pots or trays about six to 10 weeks before you design to plant the resulting seedling in the garden . An option is to originate with seedling purchased at a plant life glasshouse or garden center to get a spry beginning on the growing time of year . Either direction , wait until all risk of freeze has passed and daytime temperatures stay at or above70 degrees Fahrenheitto industrial plant seedling in the garden .
Tip
When depart seed indoors , expend commercial-grade potting soil or a soilless admixture . Never utilize garden soil , which can harbour cuss and their ball .
Choose a planting smear that catch at least eight hr of direct Dominicus photo per day , and space the seedling 2 to 3 feet asunder to give the plants room to spread . Set seedlings in holes that keep the plants at the same soil profundity as they were in their pots , and satisfy the rest of each hole with dirt . water system the plant web site ’s ground well .
you may also grow these 3 - foot - tall plants in containers , with one industrial plant per 5 - gallon pot ; keep the pots in lineal sun exposure for the best event . insure each container has bottom drain gob .
Proper Nutrients
Soil
mad apple grow best in soilhigh in organic content . So amalgamate about a 1 - inch - thick layer of compost into your planting area to a soil deepness of 6 to 8 inches before you embed . Solanum melongena also requiregood drainageto thrive . If your garden soil is rich in stiff , then combine a few - inches - thick layer of sand with the soil to improve its drain . The soil ’s pH level should be 6.2 to 6.8 for garden egg .
Water
Like all eggplant varieties , ' Ichiban ' needsadequate moistureto bring forth a heavy crop of fruits . Water is especially important when the young fruit start developing , with about1 inch per weekbeing nonesuch . Give special pee whenever the top 1 to 2 inches of soil find dry to the touch , using a soaker hosepipe or dribble irrigation to keep foliage dry and suppress emergence of fungus . Adding 2 or 3 inch of organic mulch such as shredded barque or stubble on the filth surface under the plant life also helps economise soil wet while keeping down weeds , but keep mulch back a bit from each industrial plant ’s core to discourage fungous growth .
Fertilizer
' Ichiban ' eggplant is aheavy self-feeder , needing fertilizer on a even basis . Before planting , merge 2 to 3 British pound of a granular , 15 - 5 - 10 formula into the soil for each 100 square feet of planting arena . Then feed in the plants with more plant food monthly , starting one month after planting . practice about 1 pound of the same formula for each 100 foot of planted row , mixing it into a shallow deep that you mold with a trowel about 1 foot off from the works ; this fertilizer method is calledside dressing .
Possible Problems
' Ichiban ' eggplant bush is usually simple to grow , doing peculiarly well incool climatesand producing fruits into pin . It is susceptible to several pests , however , includingflea beetlesthat masticate tiny holes in leaves and slow plant life growth . Prevent damage from these pestis by setting floating row cover over immature ' Ichiban ' plants to prevent the louse from feed and lay eggs on the plant .
The plants also may attractColorado Solanum tuberosum beetles , which have yellow and inglorious chevron . Hand - pick these beetle and their clustering of icteric eggs from the plants . netlike covering on leaves and growing lead are because of * * wanderer mites , * * which also give on the works . Spray all parts of the spider touch - affected plant until they are wet with an insecticidal max - water solution , made by diluting a hard insecticidal soap at a rate of 5 tablespoons per 1 congius of water . Repeat the diligence every two weeks as needed .
' Ichiban ' eggplants are quite disease - resistant but can develop a fungal disease calledVerticillium wiltwhen grown in overly moist conditions . The serious way to prevent that problem is by spacing plant life properly and clearing flora debris from the garden on a regular basis .
If your plants develop a fungal wilt , then set in a unlike spot next class because fungus remain in soil .
