- 1). Start the eggplant seed in a warm bright location eight weeks before your last average frost date. Use clean well-drained containers at least 2 inches wide for good root development and to prevent transplant shock. Use a soilless potting medium specifically designed for starting seed. Plant seed 1/4-inch deep. Optimal temperature for seed development is 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2). Choose the location in the garden where you would like to grow fingerling eggplants. The location should have exposure to over six hours of sun each day. In addition, the soil should be well-drained. Eggplants do not thrive in waterlogged soil.
- 3). Take a soil test to find out what amendments your soil needs for optimal eggplant production. A soil test tells you what to add to the soil and how much you need. Contact your local county agricultural extension office for information on how to take an inexpensive soil test (see Resources).
- 4). Clear the area of all competing vegetation using a shovel, hoe or tiller. Grasses and other weeds can transmit disease and insect pests to the fingerling eggplants.
- 5). Add soil amendments recommended from the soil test at the recommended rate and a 1-inch layer of compost over the eggplant growing area. Work the amendments and compost into the top 4 inches of soil using a tiller, hoe or shovel. Use a rake to smooth the planting area.
- 6). Set out 6- to 8-inch-tall transplants 2 to 3 feet apart. Rows should be between 3 and 4 feet apart. Avoid disturbing the roots of the fingerling eggplants during the transplanting process.
- 7). Keep the soil moist, but not wet, during the growing process. Apply a 1-inch layer of mulch around each plant extending out 9 inches from the trunk to conserve moisture and eliminate weed competition.
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