ABSTRACT
Eggplants belong to the Solanaceae family which comprises about 75 genera with over 2,000 species. Eggplants are well adapted to the tropics and the warm regions of the world. This warm season crop is very sensitive to frost damage. When temperatures become very high, the blossoms tend to abort. Average eggplant yields for New Jersey are approximately 18,500 kg/ha. Considerable amounts of eggplant are grown in the Coastal Plain soils along the east coast of the USA. There are some excellent varieties of eggplants being developed. The newer varieties, as do some older varieties, appear to respond to good fertilization practices; however, the newer varieties produce a much higher percentage of quality fruit than the older selections. The most economical means of determining lime and fertilizer needs for eggplants is to test the soil. The type of weed problems occurring would be peculiar to the area in which the eggplant are grown.
