My Secret to Growing Eggplant - Ultimate Guide

[@TheWeedyGarden]

So many times you move the camera, refocus, shoot, move camera, refocus, shoot…repeat! I don’t wear a hat, but if I did, I’de take it off for you Siloe. Such a master. Thanks once again Mr Gentle 🎬🎥👍🙃

[@suburbanhomestead]

I appreciate David. Filming alone sure is a workout, and I’m sure the neighbors think I’m crazy.

[@TheWeedyGarden]

@@suburbanhomestead 😂🎥

[@ddognine]

I live in Zone 9 and our summers are long and hot. I started growing eggplant for the first time last year. Sowed the seeds in March outside. They sprouted pretty quickly, but then looked sad and depressed until June when the 90+ degree weather finally set in. Suddenly they came alive. There aren't many plants that can endure our sweltering summers, but eggplant is truly tropical and loves the heat. Those tiny seedlings got four feet tall with tons of foliage and flowers almost overnight. Before the first frost, I removed two plants from the garden, potted them up, and kept them alive through the winter. They are back in the garden and even bigger than last year. While insects are attracted to the lush foliage, their growth is so vigorous I don't worry at all. I also saved some seeds as well. It is nice growing a plant that thrives in our heat vs battling the elements. So i applaud your determination to grow a plant that isn't suitable for your climate. That is a true passion.

[@elisabetk2595]

Trying to outrace damage with new growth is definitely my strategy. I start pruning off damaged leaves when there's enough newer growth to support the plant; the plant seems to respond with more vigor. Flea beetles really have a nose for stressed plants. They also seem to get lazier as the season progresses, not sure if that's because of life cycle or because it's more work to climb up taller plants or because the plants themselves are less attractive as they get thicker skins. With our long season (Texas), patience is rewarded. Gardeners up north can't wait it out.

[@bluesummer1004]

I really enjoy that these videos cover such long-term projects and that you capture it all. It makes it feel like even more of a hero's journey to victory!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thanks for appreciating the effort spent stitching together these stories!

[@allonesame6467]

@15:51 Moth Mullein blooming across the road--Lovely! I love eggplant, too! Wonderful video of strategies and tactics to success. Bravo!

[@TalEdds]

I love all your videos! So much beauty, effort and work goes into each video. It's like an educational art piece. Keep doing what you do, as I've learned so much from each video you publish!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you so much!

[@Selfsufficientme]

LOL... I just uploaded an eggplant video also. Not as detailed as this video though - nice :) P.S In my experiments the red stripy medium-sized variety in your video is one of the best disease-resistant ones I have grown.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Great to have you stop by and comment Mark. It is nice to know that these smaller stripy ones are more resistant. I didn't know that. I'm sure eggplants must love your Australian climate.

[@laurabailey4507]

Is that Rosa Bianca? That's what I'm trying this year. Black beauty was bad for me last year, the beetles ate the leaves overnight!

[@jaclo3112]

Hey. My two favourite garden youtubers in the same comments section.

[@rosea830]

Oh, I wish it were just a disease we deal with here, but it's a tiny armada of aubergine-destroying pests, lol. Do you guys even have flea beetles in Australia? Those awesome raised beds you have seem high enough to discourage them, so I've never seen their damage on your plants.

[@elisabetk2595]

@@laurabailey4507 Pretty sure those are Listada, both are beautiful and very good. Rosita is another favorite of mine.

[@TheWeedyGarden]

So glad to see your channel growing like it is atm Siloe.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you for the positive energy David. I really lucked out with the cottage garden video. You witnessed when I was at a seemingly hopeless low and have always provided optimism and inspiration, brother.

[@TheWeedyGarden]

@@suburbanhomestead yeah man. Really nice to see. I have some catching up to do 😂😂

[@pamelaadams3649]

I love eggplant and so does my whole family. One gardening season I over planted some seeds and had an over abundance of them. We had every eggplant dish you could imagine that season. I portioned them and froze them for the winter lasting till next seasons harvest! I love your videos, and seeing them makes me excited for the upcoming season!

[@suburbanhomestead]

That is awesome! a great way of extending the yield.

[@lsalinas2573]

I never tire of watching your videos they are like mini documentaries! Well researched and eloquently communicated and the gardens are delectable 😉 .... superior to any "homestead" video I've seen, a class of your own.

[@DamonBowe]

Your videos are so cleanly produced, it's really impressive.

[@blindedbythelight862]

What a Sunday! The sun is shining, and I am treated to one of your wonderful videos. I listened with my earbuds and hopefully will be able to watch the video in a bit. I always love watching the videos.

[@suburbanhomestead]

I'm so happy to hear that!

[@sacredcowbbq1326]

Just found your channel recently. My, oh my! What beautiful productions. Gardening, cooking, antiques! I'm hooked. Thanks so much.

[@lorindachristine3291]

While eggplant is not my favourite, I love your videos and enjoyed watching this. I'm so glad your eggplant was worth all the effort!

[@pavneet1131]

These videos must take so much time and effort. this is becoming my fav channel. I am from India, and we grow eggplants in our garden every summer. In India you just put the seed in the soil and they grow very easily. But i still loveed watching your process. You should look into Indian recipes made from eggplant. (aloo baingan, baingan fry, baingan ka bharta are some indian ways of cooking eggplat)

[@OrtoInScatola]

Damn, a two year long video production! Your channel is definitely one of the best KZbin channel, truly worth subscribing to

[@KerriEverlasting]

This video has 9.6k views, but 8k of those were me lol, I could watch all day. Gorgeous work, so much info, I love the way you went over a few years. Most videos are more like a snapshot with no before or after. As far as I'm concerned I find information more compelling than cute graphics. I'm here for the knowledge and you always overdeliver. 💖💖💖

[@KerriEverlasting]

What do we want? Cottage garden design masterclass! When do we want it? When we get it, but hopefully soon no pressure 😂💖

[@suburbanhomestead]

I want to make justice to the next installment about color, so I feel I need more footage from this year’s growing season. But I’ll be uploading other nice content before that as well. Hope it is not too much of a let down.

[@KerriEverlasting]

@@suburbanhomestead a reply from my favorite KZbinr is never a let down! Spending the day digging up my front lawn listening to Taproot is my favorite kind of day!

[@claireisacamel]

I come back to these videos over and over - so relaxing to kick back and see your beautiful space and plan for next season! And those stripey eggplants are worth the bug war! Beautiful!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you so much. I’m glad you see value in them.

[@kmarshall53]

I’ve never grown eggplants, but with a recipe to use and a strategy to employ, I may try them! Thank you for all of the work you put into these lovely videos - I always enjoy seeing the interior shots of your beautiful home as well as the gardening advice. 💗 from Pennsylvania.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you so much for watching.

[@galactickim]

Thanks for the video. We moved to a .82 acre property a year ago and I tried growing a lot of things from seed this year. Many successes, and some learning. The eggplant (piccolo variety, which looks like yours) are growing prolifically in containers. This was just by fluke - we don't have any garden beds in full sun yet so I decided to grow in containers. I was so overwhelmed I didn't do any research about eggplant growing. Wonderful that they grew for me, and even more wonderful that I can refer back to your video for future reference and starting seedlings! Love your homesteady vibe, your KZbin persona, and the excellent content and quality videos. Very artistic and amusing, the shots of you moving your hat make me laugh and smile 😃 . A+++.

[@screechinglilies]

I'm not even an eggplant fan nor plan to grow any but I still watched this video cause your videos are always quality 👌

[@MarieLagu]

Always in awe of your story telling style, narration and production. I look forward to watching all your videos. For ever grateful for your time and talent.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Wow, thank you!

[@jenna4649]

Appreciate my favorite Sunday coffee treat! Waving from VA

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@itsmeayanna]

A garden poet!!!!

[@joaniewillow]

I love how you show your attempts and the corrections you try. That certainly is gardening. I have had heavy flea beetle infestations on my potatoes in the past. I sprinkled wood ashes from a fireplace where no toxic things had been burned. It deters them like the DE and was free. Worked perfectly, just need to reapply .

[@leilassou]

Just found your channel. I'm impressed. I'm in a zone 6b and I'll be planting eggplants next season. Congrats!

[@stephonpaul4318]

I'm a recent subscriber and I have to say my good Sir, I'm enjoying your content. Keep being you and keep being creative!

[@dakotaovdan]

I love eggplants, they have such a unique flavor. Didn’t know eggplants were so hard to grow! Thanks for the tips!

[@suburbanhomestead]

They are delicious and can be hard to grow in certain areas, but I'm sure they can also grow wild in other places without certain pests.

[@IntroducingEmy]

I love eggplants but I've never had the confidence to try growing them. You've given me the push to try adding them to my garden next year!

[@ZukiGrL1]

I've never seem such dedication and perseverance tp grow one type of plant! Great job and thank you for sharing your findings.

[@Tabbibrs]

I found your channel like two weeks ago and i can tell how much effort you put in your videos and i enjoy them sooooo much! Thank you!!! You're amazing!

[@lauragarmon6969]

Thank you for keeping it real. Your videos have a dream like quality but you make even pest control a work of art. Thank you for the great content and thanks to Jennifer Scott from the Daily Connoisseur for recommending your videos!

[@oreettroll]

All my previous gardening years, I've always bought established plants from a nursery. This year is my first time starting them from seeds, so this new video is perfect timing. Lots of great tips in here.

[@suburbanhomestead]

I think you will like the new varieties that become available once you try growing from seed.

[@kmarshall53]

I’ve started seeds for the first time this year, too! So exciting!

[@DiggingForHealth]

Incredible video with great tips for growing eggplant and preventing pests!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Glad you liked it!

[@Cocogatte24]

Congratulations! You have gained so many subscribers in the pass few months. Awesome 💥 Your videos have come along ways.

[@dustinbodin3224]

Those are some beautiful eggplants. I grew similar looking plants last year that were called Nubia eggplants. I got the seed from Hoss Tools. They look uncannily similar. My wife and I really enjoyed stuffing them with a chicken sausage and apple mixture. They were wonderful.

[@suburbanhomestead]

They are quite delicious as well. Thanks for stopping by!

[@awesometimes6572]

What a journey to eggplant victory! I throughly enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@byreneeclark]

I'm a fairly new subscriber, and wanted to make sure to tell you that your channel is one of my favorites. I appreciate the creativity and effort that you put into creating excellent, educational content. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill with the world.

[@acelestialwitch8512]

Well done for being so persistent, it paid off and it was wonderful to watch along with you

[@MyGarden2Table]

Great content! A diluted oil+soap spray made with vegetable/ sesame oil that has been infused with a mixture of minced/ ground ginger, garlic and hot green Thai peppers will help repel pests in the growing season. Also, try planting some garlic close to the plant, I’ve seen this has helped my plants in the past. Good luck this season.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thanks for the tips. I'll have to keep trying new strategies.

[@avi8504]

sounds delicious! 😋

[@simpleo6531]

Thank you 👍🏻

[@pascalxus]

I love all your videos so much. There's a unique quality to them, not present on any of the other gardening channels. I hope your channels gets the success it deserves!

[@RoigRageFitness]

I always look forward to your videos coming out. Each one is a work of art. Thanks for all of the hard work.

[@suburbanhomestead]

I appreciate that!

[@Veronica-qg8gv]

Two days ago, KZbin recommended your channel to me, and since then I have not stopped watching videos, they are all so good ☺️. Last year we planted Eggplants but they need a lot of sun and here in Germany the summers are sometimes rainy with moderate temperatures. My parents in Spain fared much better than me. Greetings 🤗.

[@amcreative3784]

Wonderful. The first time I grew eggplant it fruited seventeen eggplant. I haven't had any success since so I can relate to the frustration then joys. So beautiful with all the flowers. Something to be proud of f. Thanksfor sharing.

[@sericss]

I am not a huge fan of egg plant, although I do consume it because of its nutritional value. Here on the island of Japan I have few problems growing it, other than occasional pests, it grows really well. I enjoy seeing the glimpses of your house and interior and such. I think your garden compliments your design and art style. The redone siding looks excellent in that red color. looking fw to more content

[@happygarden_]

*You are a great guy my friend SUBURBAN HOMESTEAD, but more importantly a good teacher. You also came across as very genuine and willing to share all that you know. May you grow in wisdom, I wish you abundant crops, happy gardeniiiiiiiiiing!!!*

[@suburbanhomestead]

I appreciate that!

[@happygarden_]

@@suburbanhomestead You're welcome, it's been a pleasure

[@TheDailyConnoisseur]

Ah, the ratatouille looked positively delish. I love eggplant parmesan too. It's one of my favorites! Thanks for the great video ✨

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you so much for stopping by, Jennifer 👍🏻

[@poetryandpower263]

Siole, I'm a new viewer this week! So glad to see another on a plant I also love. Here in upstate SC I am so lucky not to have flea beetle issues with eggplant, knock wood. This summer after 2-3 years away from the garden while my family ushered out our rapidly aging Mama, and I lost my youngest son, I neglected my garden, taking out 7 raised beds of my 9, though the two remaining are the largest. I have been working on improving the beds' soil with worm castings, biochar, coco coir, vermiculite, mychorizzae, etc. But YOU are inspiring me to convert my sunny back lawn into a cottage type garden. So I have been inhaling your videos. I love the cinamatography.. you have such skills.. and your Bloomsbury painter persona [I'm a fan of them too, especially the sisters V. Woolf and V. Bell], but mostly I'm loving your intuitive approach to the design [with art and science thrown in as background noise] that truly respects nature, the garden as designer itself, the earth, and fellow earthlings. Thank you for sharing this about eggplant. I have had miserable failure with a few veggies you make me want to revisit.. Beets for the biggest one!!

[@suburbanhomestead]

I'm glad you found the channel and have enjoyed my ramblings and experiments. All the best

[@laurenb6451]

I planted seeds of Le Barbantane and Black Beauty eggplant and they are growing along but then husband said he wanted the ones we had two years ago, Rosa Bianca. So now they’ve been bought & planted too and I expect to be sharing seedlings later. Re plastic: I have plastic flats that are over 10 years old and still looking good so I think that’s OK to do. Hahaha I have experienced woodchucks chomping away on tomatoes and eggplant and everything else as well! And deer too! As usual, fabulous video. Thank you for all your hard work. 💚

[@Dog-mom80]

I love eggplant. Especially long Asian eggplants because they seem to grow fastest and produce so many fruits per plant. Ping tung was my favourite and that’s all I’m growing this year. Thanks for the info!

[@aislingchepi11]

Beautiful video!! Loved watching all the solutions being worked out. I love the opening scene with the painting in the background and you become part of the painting. Really creative! Will look up your Etsy shop.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked it!

[@crystalitogallo]

I love your house and collection of things. I also like to use my “fancy” dishes on a “normal” day. I don’t wait for a special occasion because every day should be special.

[@AkSonya1010]

thank you so much for showing all of your struggles and success over a two year period of time. Congratulations on your win, you bounty is beautiful and you recipe looks yummy.

[@IshaPublicSchool]

Nice and informative video. Thanks for sharing ☺️. Best wishes for you 🇮🇳

[@PossumPityParty]

Such a lovely video. Your shots and editing are superb. Love the garden progress. It’s beautiful!

[@darrenwalker905]

Thoroughly enjoyed your garden artistry at work.

[@ruthshaw1037]

That video was awesome. I commend you for your persistence and patience.

[@angelah.9144]

I love everything about your environment, your style and your gardening adventures!

[@krisbaker9427]

I feel so lucky. I grew eggplant last year for the first time and had zero problems. I’m going to grow them again this year but now I’m not so confident. Thanks for all the tips, I’ll be watchful and ready to combat the insect problems if needed. Nice video, as usual. Thanks for all your artistic hard work.

[@suburbanhomestead]

You indeed are lucky if where you live flea beetles are not a problem.

[@walbiramurray5762]

I love eggplant but haven’t had much luck growing them. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@gulfcoastbutterflygardening]

Siloe’, you are making the most beautiful gardening show that I have ever seen!!! Your aesthetic is so lovely and charming! You are even beating Martha Stewart! Thank you so much for all of your hard work and helpful advice !!! I also love how honest you are about your successes and failures! I am eagerly looking forward to watching all of your gardening adventures!!!

[@jamesanderson5138]

Beautiful videos! They are great and I hope you never stop.

[@vmcshannon]

Yay! A new Video! Thanks Siloe. Also the recipe looks tasty!

[@ehloe.]

Excellent video as always Siloé ☺️ I keep wishing I could consult your expertise in book or blog form as well as here on KZbin-- you're the first gardener I think of when I wonder how something could be done thoughtfully and ingeniously. (PS your plate method has made me love growing basil again)

[@bowtielife]

Your videos are so well done! I never miss one and I always get excited when a new one comes out. They are special and I really sit and focus so I don't miss any part of it. Eggplant is on my list of plants to try. Maybe next year. I am saving this video to rewatch a few times! 💕

[@7bpotager8]

Your spray was a brilliant idea! Excellent video as always - love ❤️ it. Happy Spring 😊

[@rosea830]

I love the how you tell your stories! I have a patio table, it's 30ish inches high, and that seems to be too high for the flea beetles. I plant my eggplant directly in grow bags on the patio as soon as it's warm so the beetles don't even know they exist. I still have to worry about ants and their farming endeavors, but that's easier to deal with than skeletonized plants. Last year, I planted the largest plants from the table in the ground in late July/ early August, when the beetle pressure started die back.

[@svelanikolova5776]

Put pots of herbs around your garden that smell. Like rosemary and lavender. Also stinging nettle attracts aphids. Whatever you do, try to attract lady bug's as well. Monoculture planting ensures failure. Couple them with other stuff that like same growing conditions.

[@HurairaHerbals]

I feel like i've been holding my breath for weeks, and can finally breathe when I saw you'd posted again! I actually hate eggplant. Its the only vegetable that I can't eat under any circumstances and I normally love all veggies. But... they are very beautiful, and every now and then I try to eat it... I just really can't bring myself to like it. I wonder if I've just never had it cooked properly.

[@aleenaprasannan2146]

Here in India, a native relative of eggplant called Turkeyberry often pop up as volunteers. It's a lot more resistant to a lot of diseases and pests. We graft on them and have since had great results. Also, since the essential oils did repell the beetles, I wonder if growing herbs to mask the sent against wind direction would work. We coincidentally found out that fruitflies got attracted to Tulsi and used them pretty successfully to lure them away from the gourds and passionfruit. We even used crusherd Tulsi leaves to use as lure in trap. Though a trap might not be possible for beetles maybe it could act as a deterance

[@janetpickel8399]

Wonderful video with great information told in a stylish manner.

[@irenesilva744]

As usual, worth the wait! Another work of art!

[@andrewsolis3349]

Love your videos Siloe, and being a fellow Marylander, we love all the local tips. It’s our first year gardening and you’ve been an inspiration!

[@laurenchwastek1679]

Thank you! Have you ever thought of doing the same type of videos but maybe for interior design? Your house is so beautiful! I'd love to know how to design an interior space with beautiful art, furniture and plants as well

[@suburbanhomestead]

Maybe I'll do a tour some day.

[@darrenwalker905]

@@suburbanhomestead yes, please!

[@laurenchwastek1679]

That would be AMAZING.

[@lidial1042]

I've been trying to grow eggplant for few years now and I've had mixed results. I will definitely be trying the sacrificial decoy plant method this year 😄 Thanks for sharing all the information! I can't wait for the next garden design video!

[@suburbanhomestead]

Best of luck!

[@SirtenlySurprized]

Another fantastic video! I learned quite a bit and always enjoy seeing your lovely home & garden!

[@allisonbleb]

high-quality as always.. nice video

[@TheSunRiseKid]

I had a lot of flea beetles the previous year and I made a new property now. I think I may plant a bunch of catnip and other miscellaneous herbs and maybe some marigolds around my eggplants! Great video!

[@maryt8184]

Good video - persistence is key. I have been using empty metal soup and vegetable cans to up-pot seedlings. They work fine.

[@nenengpinay1]

You are so creative and artistic how you shared your experience in gardening 😍

[@joannewolfe5688]

My favorite insecticide for garden plants is a bar of ivory soap. I shave off a little and dissolve the shavings in abundant amounts of warm water. Put the soap solution in a spray bottle and liberally coat leaves. If beetles are laying eggs underneath leaves, I use my hand to gently help coat all sides of the leaves with the soapy water. This will take care of most bugs. Re-coat plants after a rain. Interestingly enough, the plants seem to love the soapy water and always put on quite a growth spurt.

[@jessvs6124]

Beautifully made video and beautiful home!

[@growfresh2225]

Nice sharing 👍 😀

[@gabriellakadar]

What perfect timing for this video. I put eggplant seeds on moist paper towels immediately after watching. I do use ziploc bags because usually I put them over an old heating pad that is covered in folded old pillowcases so some of the heat dissipates. But yesterday, I put them between the layers of fabric with the kitchen thermometer and left home. Four hours later I discovered that the heat was over 110F (maybe even up to 120F). Immediately I shifted them on top of the pillowcases where they are at 85F. This morning about 5 a.m. I decided to check the seeds to see if I'd cooked them. I have more seeds in case these got killed. There was a debate going on in my head that surely in their home climate, eggplant seeds must sometimes be exposed to high temperatures. To my utter amazement, several seeds have germinated. One has a root that is about 5 mm long! All of the seeds are plumped up. Now I have to bring forward the entire potting business. I thought I'd have at least a week before the seeds would germinate. Some of them obviously germinated in under 18 hours. Thanks for your very comprehensive video on the complications of growing eggplants. I'll put row cover over them to hopefully reduce flea beetle depredation. And I'll sprinkle them with DE which worked very well two years ago on eggplants put into the ground. Last year I had them in 5 gallon pots, and as you observed, flea beetles didn't appear to be interested. Mercifully, I have no groundhogs. Indoor plant starts are very attractive to one of my cats. She will chew up eggplants and peppers but not tomatoes. Naughty cat.

[@suburbanhomestead]

That is an interesting observation. I suppose 110F is the upper limit of what is acceptable for them.

[@gabriellakadar]

@@suburbanhomestead Last year we had a very warm autumn. I put down an inch thickness of coffee chaff on the soil around my friend's eggplants. Maybe a week later I put my hand down on the chaff, which BTW despite it's small size stays in place regardless of how windy it is, and it was warm. Composting in place and keeps weeds from growing. The plants were productive until November. Online information claims it blows away easily. Clearly whoever wrote that has never used it as mulch. It does get ugly when it finally becomes wet. Supposedly it contains a good amount of nitrogen but I can't rely on information online from sources that contradict my own experience. If you have a coffee roastery anywhere nearby, they will be more than happy to be rid of their chaff to a home gardener. They much prefer we use it than it goes to a landfill. I told the manager that I would take all of her chaff for a month. I had no idea how much they produce but ended up with 35 gigantic garbage bags full. All the neighbours spread it out on their plots too. Initially the chaff is hydrophobic but it does break down from the bottom up. It keeps the moisture in the soil too. My usual mulch was not available last year due to all the issues with trucks getting through the border so I had to get creative and figure out what I could obtain locally. I also sourced spent brewer's grain which is not attractive to birds or animals since the carbohydrate is gone from it. I spread it out on the soil surface to let it cool and dry for a few days and then turned it in. Checking on it now, I can't find whole grains anywhere in the soil except for whatever was left on the surface. I shovelled the stuff out of the wheelie bins outside of a microbrewery. Big breweries send their spent grain to farms as feed but microbreweries generally don't have those sort of arrangements and the stuff goes into landfill. So they are happy to let people take whatever they want. People claim it stinks. Sure, if left in a container it will first smell like yoghurt and then it will smell bad. But if it is immediately spread out on top of the soil to dry it will become a combo of green and brown compostable source for the soil.

[@anandrsg]

Great video. I have been there. Struggled and finally got something to reap at last. Will try again.

[@helenjohnson8272]

Great video, as always. I especially liked this format. Felt like I was hanging out in your garden while chatting about how you struggled with flea beetles and triumphed! I too struggled with the wee tiny buggers and in the end found diatomaceous earth the only thing that worked. I dust generously and frequently to control the beetles then stop applying at the first sight of flowers so as not to harm any pollinators. As you noted, once the plants are established they typically recover from any damage and thrive. Mind you, it took me nearly 4 years to figure all this out... lol. Thanks for the recipe at the end - what a bonus. Looking forward to preparing my eggplant this way. Take care and good luck with this year's garden.

[@suburbanhomestead]

Thank you for the feedback! And its good to know this approach worked for you as well.

[@theherbalistsassistant]

your videos are the highlight of my daily routine 👍🏼

[@suburbanhomestead]

Wow, thank you!

[@ParqForrest]

I enjoyed this much! I was on edge watching you figure this thing out lol good work thanks for sharing

[@ladyryan902]

Perfect timing.im struggling with eggplant also..plus EVERYTHING grows slowly here thx

[@suburbanhomestead]

You got this!

[@maddisonzetterberg5548]

Another INCREDIBLE vid!

[@agreenkitchenwitch8533]

Thank you!! I’m planning on growing eggplant this summer.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

I haven't grown eggplant recently but I don't remember having so many issues when I did. I'm in the Chicago area zone 5B so that could account for it. Am trying again this year just to see what happens. I admire your dedication! Not sure I would go to that much effort to save mine 😊. Lovely seeing your garden from last year. It's pretty amazing how much you've accomplished in a short space of time.

[@suburbanhomestead]

I think it depends a lot in the pest pressure in your area. Maybe Chicago is too cold for flea beetles to be as abundant as they are where I am now. And it changes a lot even in the same state.

[@fiestylucifer]

I baby my eggplant, I live about 5 miles from the Canadian border. We live in a microclimate of hotter in summer and colder in the winter than the coast. I usually buy starts. But love your permaculture info. I have grown the small ones.

[@giancolabird]

Looking forward to trying the recipe and information.

[@henas621]

So beautiful, you are a true artist also in making these films. Thank for creative ideas on gentle fighting for eggplant harvest😉🍆

[@suburbanhomestead]

So nice of you

[@Floresefrutiferas]

🌱 Olá amigo muito legal seus videos, deixando meu apoio. 👍🌸🌸

[@suburbanhomestead]

Muito Obrigado!

[@wm-fm1ts]

Your videos are always so inspiring! I've only eaten eggplant once, and I did not like it, but your recipe at the end looks so good!

[@oneone8318]

Try frying eggplant steaks in olive oil.. you can salt the steaks first then wipe the exes water, then fry. by eggplant steaks i mean round shaped pieces of the eggplant. like almost steak shape pieces.

[@suburbanhomestead]

I forgot to say to add an heirloom tomato. You can see me adding it but I didn't say in the narration. This is especially good with a bit more olive oil as a spread on toast.

[@carolfreeman2962]

@@oneone8318 I love to fix them as you would fried green tomatoes in light olive oil. So yummy!

[@joanies6778]

Rattatouie is one of my favorite recipes for eggplant, too. I do make mine in bigger chunks, roasted in the oven. Last year my Black Beauty eggplants grown in huge pots were stunted and started growing too late. So, I overwintered them thinking I could get an earlier start this year. They overwintered well, I brought them out late this spring, but then they got decimated in a hail storm. Good thing I had started a smaller Japanese variety, too. They are planted in the ground, but I just noticed flea beetle damage. Time to get out the DE.

[@FluffyMonsterPony]

So much work in these videos and your plants! Love it! I'm wondering why you haven't tried neem oil to prevent them from sucking and eating your eggplants? I only use neem oil for spraying it on the leaves or even put it in the water before watering them and it has worked wonders! Even for other pests! Maybe that could also help you for this years eggplants. Greetings from Germany

[@krisoberhauserbishop7552]

I have recycled row cover that a local farmer was going to throw away. Years ago, before you could buy row cover, I used to know and old Italian lady who sewed together okd curtaon sheers she got at Goodwill. I am talking forty or so years ago. She used them to keep bugs off of certain crops. I have seen a cotton row cover in a catalog somewhere but it was extremely expensive. DE is one of my faves for flea beetles. I like to make a slightly sticky garlic and hot pepper spray with some soap to help it stick. I then dust with DE and I think it lasts a little longer. I like that one two punch. It also keeps the groundhog away. I do the same for potatoes. I was thinking about cloches. Large water bottles fir water coolers would make great cloches for eggplants. Just cut out the bottom. If you can get sliding doors from a shower, the type made of plexiglass, you could make an A-frame cloche. They are fairly light. Thiswas a great video.