Why stick to the norm, when you can easily try different varieties. We have already covered how to grow eggplants in an earlier post. We have also looked at how to grow shishito peppers, which are also native to Japan. In today’s post we will take a look at how to grow ichiban Japanese eggplants.

How are they different from the common eggplant? Well they have tend to have thinner fruit that have a sweet, milder taste. The plant also produces a lot more fruit, which is ready for harvest earlier too. This variety does well in warm temperatures and will not demand too much in terms of your time when it comes to maintenance and care. Instead of your garden, you can also successfully grow some plants in containers.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• ichiban japanese eggplant seeds
• seedling trays
• seedling starter mix
• compost
• garden hose
• compost tea or organic fertilizer
• shovel or spade
• wood or straw mulch
• stakes or tomato cages

It is best that you start your seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost. When ready for transplant find a location with well drained soil and up to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Plant the seedlings 2 to 3 feet apart, the plants can grow up to 3 feet wide and as much as 4 feet tall. It is also recommended that you use stakes or tomato cages to provide support.

Keep well watered, the soil should be moist at all times. Apply fertilizer every two to 3 weeks. For protection against evaporation and over heating, mulch should be applied around the base a month after transplanting. Spidermites, hornworms, aphids and beetles may attack your plants. They should be ready for harvest within two months or when they are about 10 inches long.

You can get more information on the eHow blog, here…

How To Grow Ichiban
Japanese Eggplants

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