| Botanical name | Solanum melongena |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Semi Frost Hardy Semi Frost Hardy – Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Brinjal, eggplant, aubergine |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Sow seed in seed trays or seedbeds and transplant seedlings after about five weeks when large enough. Plant seedlings out into rows 500mm apart or into pots 300mm in diameter. |
| Maintenance | Pinch out the main shoot when the seedlings are about 150mm tall to encourage the development of side shoots. |
| Fruit | Brinjals are grown for their egg-shaped, dark purple fruits, although varieties with white, striped and pale purple fruits are also available. |
| Interesting info | Brinjals are close relatives of potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. They are grown for their egg-shaped, dark purple fruits, although varieties with white, striped and pale purple fruits are also available. Brinjals are a warm-season crop. |
| Possible problems | In well watered locations, bacterial wilt is often a problem on soils that have been used for a few years for susceptible crops (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers). Affected plants suddenly wilt and die. There is no cure and the only way to prevent bacterial wilt is to rotate crops. |
| Common pests and diseases | Cutworms, nematodes. |
| Harvest | Pick brinjals when they are well developed. Cut the stalks with secateurs to avoid damaging the plants. |
| Yield | Five to six well-grown plants should yield enough fruit for a family of four. |
Solanum melongena (Brinjal, eggplant, aubergine)
- Botanical name: Solanum melongena
- Common name(s): Brinjal, eggplant, aubergine
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
Brinjals are close relatives of potatoes, tomatoes and peppers. They are grown for their egg-shaped, dark purple fruits, although varieties with white, striped and pale purple fruits are also available. Brinjals are a warm-season crop.
Family: Solanaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: so-LAN-num mel-ON-gen-uh
Solanum melongena requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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