Eggplant Production Guide

Introduction
Eggplant Production Guide

Production Statistics
 Eggplant Production Guide

Soil and Climatic Requirements

Eggplant Production Guide

Varietal Selection
Eggplant Production Guide

Land Preparation
Eggplant Production Guide

Mulching Advantages
Eggplant Production Guide

Planting
Eggplant Production Guide

Care and Maintenance

Eggplant Production Guide

Harvesting
Eggplant Production Guide

Marketing
Eggplant Production Guide

Additional Info
 Introduction
Eggplant (Solanum melongena, L.) is a tender perennial plant of the Nightshade
or Solanaceae family. It is extensively grown in the Philippines making it as one
of the most important vegetables in the country. The young fruits may be
roasted, fried, stuffed, cooked as curry, pickled or prepared with other vegetables
as the popular llocano dishes, pinakbet and dinengdeng.
This vegetable is a good source of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, iron,
protein, folic acid and vitamins A and B. It is high in fiber and low in fat,
calories and sodium. Eggplant skin is called nasunin, a potent antioxidant and
free radical scavenger that protects all membranes from damage.
Eggplant is also used in the preparation of traditional medicine. The ashes of the
fruit are used as dry hot poultice for hemorrhoids and the rounded root is applied
inside the nostrils against ulcerations. It is also used to cure diabetes, asthma,
cholera, bronchitis and dysuria, a painful discharge of urine. The fresh or dried
leaves and fruit can reduce blood cholesterol level. The juice from the roots is
used to cure otitis and toothache.
 Production Statistics

Eggplant is the country’s top ranking vegetable in terms of value production. It is

grown in 18, 000ha all over the country, but major producers are Ilocos (29%),
Central Luzon (14%) and Southern Tagalog (13%).

Eggplant production accounts about 28 percent of the total volume of top

vegetables grown in the country which attained the highest value among the
leading vegetables. The area devoted to eggplant production is more than 1,875
hectares composed of farms ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 hectares with an average
yield of 18.4 MT/ha which is about half of the average yield in Asia and the
world (BAS, 2011).
 Soil and Climatic Requirements

Eggplant thrives best in sandy loam and clay loam

soils with pH value ranging from 5.5 to 6.8. It can
be planted throughout the year. The crop is
moderately sensitive to flooding and moisture
especially during flowering and fruit development.
Eggplant requires 35-40 milliliter of water per week
and a temperature of 20°C to 30°C during seed
germination, 21°C to 30°C during its growth
duration and 24o C to 32o C soil temperature.
 Varietal Selection
Select varieties that are high yielding, resistant to insect pests and diseases, adapted to local
conditions and acceptable to the consumers. Several improved varieties from East-West are listed
below
Eggplant is best grown transplanted. Line sow 200-250g of seeds/ha in seedbed with one part
animal manure and ½ part carbonated rice hull. The lines should be 10-15 cm apart. Water before
and after sowing. Mulch with rice hull or straw and provide partial shading. Water regularly. One
week before transplanting, expose to full sunlight. Transplant four weeks from sowing.

Varieties Characteristics Maturity Date

(DAT)
Fortuner F1 High Yielding, Superior Shelf Life, Long Purple Fruits, Compact and
Vigorous
Banate King F1 High Yielding, Early Maturing, Long, Glossy Slim, Good transportability, 45-50
Long Shelf Life
Domino F1 Short & Oblong, Green & Glossy, High-Yielding

Calixto F1 Cluster Type, Dark Violet, High Yielding, Long Shelf Life 55-60

Amor F1 Green and White Fruits, Intermediate Resistance to Bacterial Wilt, 55-60
Better Tasting Than Usual Eggplant
Gwapito F1 “Mansanitas” Type, Round, green-purple fruits, High Yielding, Early 45-50
Maturing
Morena F1 High Yielding, Early-Maturing, Good Transportability, Long, Glossy- 60-65
Dark Purple, Long Shelf Life
 Land Preparation

Prepare land by plowing ones and harrowing twice. Make furrows 1.0 m apart. Spread
manure along rows or hills at 1-2 handful per hill. Apply complete fertilizer (14-14-
14) at 10-15 g/hill and cover lightly with soil.

Prepare the field as early as possible to give enough time for the weeds and stubbles
of previous crops to decompose. Plow the soil at a depth of 15-20 cm 2 to 3 times at
one week interval. Harrow every after plowing to break the clods and level the field. A
well-pulverized soil promotes good soil aeration and enhances root formation. Prepare
furrows 50 cm apart.

For East-West varieties planting is done at a rate of 2 rows per plot in a zigzag pattern
on a 1m wide plot with distance from hills at .5m. The bed is raised at a height of 75
cm.
 Mulching Advantage

Mulching is an effective way of insulating and protecting delicate plant root systems
against harsh weather conditions. It works as a barrier that improves the soil's nutrient
profile. Mulching also reduces erosion while enhancing the soil’s ability to hold more
moisture.

Two of the most popular mulching types of mulch are organic and inorganic mulch.
Organic mulch is made from biodegradable materials such as grass clippings, wood chips,
dried leaves, and straws. On the other hand, inorganic mulch is comprised of river rock,
stone, or crushed gravel.

Plastic mulch is considered as a type of inorganic mulch. This type of mulching utilizes
polyethylene film to shield plants from the elements. It was in the 1950s when plastic
mulching became popular among US growers. Plastic mulching was used in commercial
berry and vegetable production.

However, this method is now being adapted to home gardens too. The polyethylene film is
usually a sheet of black plastic and it works the same way as organic mulch, the film
insulates the soil, prevents soil erosion, and reduces moisture evaporation.
 Planting

Irrigate area before transplanting. Eggplant seedlings are ready for

transplanting 30-35 days after sowing (DAS) or when the seedlings
have developed 3 - 4 true leaves. Pull seedlings carefully. Do not
remove the soil adhering to the roots to minimize root injury and
promote faster recovery.

When using plastic mulch, transplant seedlings directly into the

prepared holes in the plastic sheets. For conventional method or
without the use of plastic mulch, transplant the seedlings within the
furrows at a distance of 50 cm between hills. Most farmers plant
eggplant in double row method because it provides developing fruits
adequate protection against sun scalding. It also facilitates farm
operations. Transplant only one seedling per hill. Preferably, transplant
during cloudy days or late in the afternoon to avoid transplanting
shock. Replant missing hills or wilted plants within 3 - 5 days after
transplanting (DAT). Water the newly transplanted seedlings
immediately.
 Care and Maintenance
If plastic mulch is used, water the beds 2 days before transplanting to cool down the soil under the mulch and
allow the fertilizers applied to dissolve. For conventional method or without the use of mulch, irrigate the
furrows to dissolve the fertilizers applied and minimize direct contact of the seedling roots with the fertilizers.
During the dry season, irrigate at 7, 21 and 30 DAT. Irrigate every 10 days thereafter. The mulched eggplant
requires lesser frequency of irrigation water. During the wet season, irrigate as the need arises.

Pruning is necessary for plant growth and fruit development. Remove the lateral branches below the split,
except the branch nearest to the split (Y branch) to allow the air to move freely on the base of the plants and to
minimize occurrence of fungal and bacterial diseases. Prune unnecessary leaves to reduce competition in
nutrient absorption.

Practice regular hand weeding to minimize the growth of weeds. Off-bar at 14 DAT and hill-up at 21 DAT.
Pull the remaining weeds in between plants after cultivation.

Various pests affect solanaceous vegetable during its growing period. Insect pests and diseases reduce yield,
lower the quality of produce and increase cost of production.

The common insect pests of eggplant are fruit and shoot borer. The most destructive diseases are bacterial and
fusarium wilt. Prevent the occurence of pests by practicing field sanitation, plant resistant varieties, crop
rotation and as last recourse, spray insecticide following the manufacturers’ recommended dosage. In case of
disease infection, pull and burn infected plants.
 Harvesting

Harvesting starts 46 to 50 DAT, depending on the variety and the intended use of the
fruits. Harvest fruits that are still tender and young. Harvest early in the morning and
protect the fruits from the sun, rain, and mechanical damage. Harvest all fruits from
the plants to prolong the fruiting period of the crop. Harvesting is usually done two
times a week. Use pruning shear in harvesting to avoid damaging the plants. Remove
damaged fruits and sort according to market standards. Prick the bags with a pin for
ventilation. Provide two pricks per kilogram of packed fruits. For some varieties, the
fruits can be stored up to five days under this condition.

Harvest mature fruits which are shiny and still soft, More frequent harvesting can
reduce damage from fruit borers. Harvest all fruits including deformed and damaged
ones to prevent spread of pest and diseases. Harvesting can last for 3-6 months.
Several varieties can be grown from 1-2 years using “ratoon” style or the cutting of
the branches and retaining 1 foot of the plant as standing crop after 8-9 months after
planting.
 Marketing
Before planting, the farmer should conduct a market survey within their locality. One should visit the market
and ask questions such as Months of lowest and highest supply and maximum purchasing capacity. It is
recommended to engage the buyers and form a simple agreement (written or verbal) to at least 5 buyers to
minimize the risk of oversupply thereby increasing spoilage and further losses.

Furthermore, a comparison must be done to the list of buyers especially if purchasing is done through cash on
delivery, pick-up or “consignment” which affects the income of the farmer.

Did you know most of the farmers don’t know their break-even price?

Break-even Price in agriculture refers to the cost of production per kilo.

BREAK EVEN PRICE (P)=TOTAL VARIABLE COST/HA

YIELD per Hectare

Example: BREAK EVEN PRICE (P) = 52,260/Ha = 2.84

18,400 Kg

This means that if your cost of production in planting eggplant is 52,260 pesos and you harvested a total of
18,400 kg. Every kilo of eggplant cost you 2.84 pesos in making, thus, if they are sold at 25 pesos per
kilogram you have a net profit of 22.15 pesos per kilo or if sold at 15 pesos, you have a net income of 12.15
per kilogram.
 Additional Info

Did you know that you can propagate eggplants through cuttings?

Select a mature and healthy eggplant stock. Cut 6-8 inches of healthy green branch or
stem at an angle of 45 degree and make sure you cut below the leaf node. The stem or
branch that you are cutting must have should retain 3 leafs, if more than 3 leaves you
must cut it along with flower buds if any.

Immediately place the cuttings in a container filled with water just 2-3 inches high.

You can then use rooting hormone (optional) like ANAA at the bottom part of the
stem before placing within a ready set of potting mix. Keep in indirect sunlight for 17-
25 days. Water regularly to maintain moisture.

You can transplant into a larger container or within fields.

Try it out now!