How to Grow Eggplant

Planning the crop
Eggplants need a sunny position and a well-drained soil liberally enriched with well-rotted manure or compost. There is no advantage in planting the crop before the days are reliably warm because eggplants are sensitive to cool conditions. Fruit usually will not set at temperatures below 21°C. Eggplants, tomatoes, capsicums and chillies are from the Solanaceae family and are prone to the soil-borne disease verticillium wilt. To reduce its spread, do not plant any members of the family in the same site more than once every four years. Many eggplant varieties are so ornamental that they can be planted in the flower garden if space is limited.

How many to grow- Depending on if you are growing a range of varieties, and also on family preferences, between 10 and 20 plants should be enough.

Varieties
Long Purple- A traditional variety with cylindrical, deep purple-skinned fruits.
Imperial Black Beauty- A reliable older variety; bears about eight large, oval-shaped, purple fruits of excellent flavour; ideal for mild summer districts.
Listada di Gandia- A beautiful purple-and-white-striped, egg-shaped Italian variety; drought-tolerant; flesh is delicious and free of bitterness.
Violetta di Firenze- A famous Italian variety with very large, rounded fruits that are lavender striped white and free of bitterness.
White Beauty- An excellent variety for hot, humid areas; very productive, with well-flavoured flesh.
Rosa Bianca- A superb old Italian variety; bears very large, plump fruits that are white washed with lavender; flesh is particularly tender, delicious and free of bitterness.
Louisiana Long Green- Ideally suited to hot, humid areas yet resistant to mild frosts; bears long, slender, pale green fruits with excellent flavour.