Soil? Fertlizer? Looks like an extremely narrow bed. Have you grown stuff there successfully before? Do I understand that only one plant of several has this problem?

I have grown here for 2 years with no issues. Its narrow about 12-18 inches, been a while since I measured it. It is only the one plant that is not doing well.

In the first picture, the eggplant on the right was also slightly droopy. Watering that one helped perk it back up. This one just hasn't shown signs of perking back up. The only good sign I saw was that it did not look worse and the center stalk did not limp or dry up.

Did you check the roots for damage from insects or critters?

How do I check the roots without damaging it further?

OK, the fact that you're grown there before, and that other plants are doing well there, suggests that it's not the bed or the soil or the nutrients. Sounds to me like damage in transplantation. It may reroot. But root pests are also a possibility. To check for root pests, scrape back the soil an inch or so below the surface and look for stem damage.

Be careful about watering. Like peppers, eggplants don't like to be overwatered.

I transplanted them a while ago. They barely had their first sets of true leaves when I did it. They have grown a lot since then. I don't think its from when I transplanted.

I can try that later today or tomorrow. If I do find some stem damage what do I do then?

I dug around it for bugs and to check the stem. It like something ate away at part of the stem on one side.

Here is a bug I also spotted on the eggplant.

Well, there's your problem, though we're really not sure what's causing it. I have to say that when part of the stem underground disappears, it can also be root-rot, which is what happens if the plant is standing in water. That's the result if you overwater, and the soil doesn't drain well. Is the deep soil sopping wet?

We had a lot of rain most days so i only watered after it drooped from a hot day. My neighbors has his sprinkler on that waters my eggplants, but they all get the same amount from it. I wouldn't say the soil was extremely wet. Could it be something else that rots the stem/roots? Is there anything I should do or just wait and see what happens at this point?

I went to check them at 12:00 am after a 90 degree day. The other eggplants had a slight wilting from the heat but nothing not be expected after such a hot day. The one that has the issues looked like it was drying again. I had to give it a splash of water from a jug to not let it dry out fully

It looks like it is getting worse. Here are more pictures of its progress. Today i mulched it with a black bag to prevent water from my neighbor and rain to wet the soil anymore. I'm assuming if it dries it somewhat over a few day it will give it an ability to recover.

That's a good idea as it will hopefully kill the grass and weeds, as well as keeping moisture in.

I would cut a little hole so that the black plastic is not touching the stem. You can mulch the hole area with bark chips or grass clippings to prevent evaporation. Just don't have anything actually touching the stem as it can cause rot.

Linda

There is no grass or weeds around it. I pulled them and mulched it with grass clippings.

I made a hole in the bag before putting it down. I put the plant through the hole and laid the bag down around it.