Eggplant

The eggplant is a plant of the family Solanaceae (nightshades). The fruit is commonly used in cooking. As a nightshade, it is closely related to the tomato, potato and tobacco plant.. It is native to India.

It is a perennial but is often cultivated as an annual. The wild on wild plants is less than 3 cm (1.2 in) in diameter, but much larger in cultivated forms.

The fruit contains many small, soft and edible seeds, but have a bitter taste because they contain nicotinoid alkaloids, as the tobacco plant does.

Names

Scientific names: Solanum melongena
Common names: Aubergine, Melongene, Brinjal, Guinea squash

Scientific classification

Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Solanum
Species: S. melongena

Cultivation

Sow or pre-sow in the beginning of March. Sow and cultivate the young plants at a minimum temperature of 68 F (20 C). Keep the plants free from frost at all times. Plant from the end of April in the greenhouse or from half May outside on a warm spot. You can also grow eggplants in pots on a terrace or balcony.

Video

• Vegetable & Fruit Gardening : How to Grow Eggplant Eggplants are crops that hate the cold, so they should be planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed - With Jarrett Man.
  
  

Gallery

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  A welcome guest in the greenhouse: a ladybird on an eggplant eating away the greenflies

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  Eggplant seeds

See also

• Gardening courses
• Knowledge base:Gardening

External links

• Eggplant Wikipedia