Eggplant is a summer vegetable, grown in warm climates. It’s a fruit that resembles a large, dark purple egg. The flesh is soft and rich in flavor but has high water content. To keep them growing, eggplant will need plenty of water. How often do you need to water eggplant?
How Often to Water Eggplant?
Eggplants are a summer crop, but they can be grown year-round in warm climates. In the spring and early summer, eggplants require regular watering. Keep the soil evenly moist until the plant blooms, then water less often — once every one or two weeks.
You can use a drip irrigation system to water eggplants with minimal waste. If you’re growing your eggplant in containers, use a soaker hose or other type of hose that delivers water slowly to prevent overwatering.
In fall and winter, when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F (10 C), eggplants become dormant and don’t need extra water unless it’s extremely cold or dry. If the soil is dry, add about 1 inch of mulch around the plant to protect it from extreme cold.
How To Tell It’s Time to Water Your Eggplant
Eggplant needs lots of water to keep it plump and juicy, but this can be difficult to determine. Here are some signs that your eggplant needs to be watered:
The stem at the bottom of the plant turns brown. This means that there isn’t enough water in the soil around the roots. If you see this, you should water immediately.
The leaves have light spots on them, kind of like sunburned spots on your skin. When there isn’t enough moisture in the soil, this can happen because there isn’t enough moisture for photosynthesis (the process by which plants turn sunlight into food). It’s best to water immediately if you notice any spotted leaves.
Your eggplant starts looking wilted or droopy. This happens when there isn’t enough moisture for photosynthesis, just like with the spotted leaves above. If this happens, give your eggplant a good soak immediately to help revive it!
How to Water Eggplant
Watering eggplant is a little bit different than watering most other plants.
The best way to water your eggplant is with a watering can or hose. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you can set it up for the eggplant, but make sure that the eggs don’t get wet when they’re still green and growing.
Watering Eggplants in Containers
If you’re growing your eggplant in containers, keep them on benches in full sun. Make sure that the soil has good drainage so that water doesn’t pool at the bottom and cause root rot. Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, but don’t leave them sitting in standing water.
Drain any excess water from the container after watering so that standing water doesn’t collect at the bottom of your pot and cause root rot.
Watering Eggplants in Ground
When growing eggplant in ground beds, make sure that they get at least 8 hours of sunlight each day and are spaced far enough apart so they won’t shade one another out as they grow larger through their season.
The best way to water your eggplants is with a watering can or hose because these have more control over how much water each plant gets compared to an automatic sprinkler system.
How Much Water Do Eggplants Need?
Water eggplant deeply enough that the water reaches at least halfway down into the soil. This will help prevent fungus from developing on the plant’s roots.
When Is The Best Time To Water Eggplant?
You can water eggplant at any time of day, but watering early in the morning will help keep the plants from wilting in the heat of midday. If you are growing your plants indoors, be sure not to overwater them — overwatering can cause root rot.
Signs of Excessive Eggplant Watering
Excessive watering is a common problem with eggplants, but it’s easy to avoid. The best way to ensure that your eggplants don’t get too much water and develop root rot, which can lead to wilted leaves and stunted growth, is to check the soil every few days.
Here are some signs of excessive watering:
- The leaves of the plant are wilting or drooping even though they’re not under direct sun exposure.
- The plants are not growing as quickly as they should.
- The stems of the plant are soft and mushy.
- You can see white or yellowish roots emerging from the base of the plant.
Final Thoughts
The amount of water needed depends on the amount of heat and sunlight that the plant receives. If you live in a warm, sunny climate, you may only need to water every few days. In cooler temperatures or during periods of drought, you may need to water every day.
