I'm no expert but have had success with eggplants, esp the asian varieties. Eggplants love heat so I would recommend full sun. You won't need a trellis but as the plant produces (and this one can be a heavy producer), you may want to stake it for support. Hope that helps a bit.

I haven't grown eggplant in years but I have extra space so I picked up a few today and plunked them in - they are the cultivar 'Hansel' which supposedly can be harvested starting at 2" and proceeding up to 10" or - they are rather long and narrow. Anybody have luck with this variety? I drove a stake next to each in the garden as I planted. They are in for some early season heat here in Illiois!

Not trying to highjack this thread but I second cindyshunshine's question about luck with Hansel. I just picked some up at a local feed store and they had 16-18" starts for $1.50 each. Compared to WallyWorld wanting $3 each for Ichibans in the 4-6 inch range. So much for slashing prices.

It won't need a trellis. Maybe a stick. Keep in full sun. Even when it
gets very hot. They keep producing.

I second the motion. I have eggplants now with stalks as big around as my thumb. The plants are waist high. Definitely full sun.

Heat is not going to be an issue unless you live in Phoenix and put the plant on the pavement in August.

Full sun, Stake instead of trellis (I use 6 foot bamboo that you can buy cheap at a big box store). And no, don't pinch the flowers.

Susan

Thanks to everyone for the good advice.

Now for another newbie eggplant question: I just noticed small round holes have appeared on all the leaves (there are only 5 leaves). Does this sound like I've got a problem already?

Thanks again!!

I'd inspect the plants and look for the culprits. Likely insects!

Re: the Hansel. Great variey, very compact plant and a super producer. We got scads of fruit from thenn last year. Super mild, few seeds. Ohh annd penstroker, check for flea beetles. They are tiny round black beetles that hop like fleas. They cause the damage you describe. Neem oil does q pretty good job on em.

laura21774, I should have been earthworm21216 cuz I am originally from Balimore. Born and raised. Thanks for the informaion on Hansel.

Penstroker,
The small round holes are probably caused by flea beetles. I use Sevin very lightly, and very carefully, to stop them. I make sure to avoid getting the Sevin on the blossoms, and try to do a preventive dusting before the blossoms appear.

Flea beetles..Ugh I hate them :( If ur aiming for organic control try planting Daikon Radish near the plants (beetles like them more) or insecticidal soap. Unfortunatly for me this year its not working, so I broke the rule and dusted with Sevin very carfully as losing 10 eggplants upset me more then breaking my organic only rule. My plants looks like someone took a mini shotgun to them.

I planted Hansel eggplent from seed. They are growing great and healthy.They are just starting to bloom and it looks like it is clusters of 4-6 forming at many numerous places,if this is correct each plant could have as many as 20 or so on one plant.Does anyone have any knowlege about this? It seems like a big load for one plant,and I do have them suuported by cage. THANKS FOR ANY HELP

gardenall, That is very interesting to have eggplant fruits in clusters.
BTW, I have ONE Hansel (and one Gretel). Mine is in blooming stage now.
I will find out about clustering soon. I have lots of ICHIBANs and another variety (Pink striped) that have have single fruits at a point.

{{gwi:49069}}

I am not seeing fruit yet but the little pods for the blooms are in clusters with some already blooming.I too have ICHIBAN and another varriety BLACK BEAUTY that both form single fruits at numerous places on its plants.They are already having fruit on them.The HANSEL plants was planted out two weeks later than the others.

RE: HANSEL
As gardenall reported hansel(also gretel) grow blooms in clusters.
I cheked mine today and sure enough flowers are developing in clusters of 3 or 4.
This is the first time I see an eggplant doing that. I wonder how big the fruits can get.

Cyrus