MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532 
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Post by MaryL on Sept 11, 2017 13:24:21 GMT -5
I started this patio sized eggplant in July. It is called, aptly enough, "Patio Baby" and is a hybrid mini eggplant from Johnny's Seeds. Here is the description from their site:
 IMG_0402 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
 IMG_0403 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
Their site is silent as to height, but the Burpee site says it's 16"-20" high. Who knows, as they sound the same but could be different strains.
I did do an initial prune to this plant much like we do for basil and certain peppers, being the first time I'm growing it and fearing the ultimate height despite the seed description. The outer original leaves are huge! So I'm thinking I will remove those. What do you think?
 IMG_0994 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
 IMG_0992 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
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Post by drbanks on Sept 11, 2017 14:08:35 GMT -5
Look at the size of those leaves!!!
I've been "eggplant curious," so I should be following this one.
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Sept 11, 2017 14:24:05 GMT -5
Huge Leaves!
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 11, 2017 14:40:08 GMT -5
Look at the size of those leaves!!! IKR??!!! They're even too big to make stuffed leaves with (if they were edible, idk). |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 11, 2017 14:41:10 GMT -5
Should I cut them? Maybe I'll start with just cutting one off. The biggest. |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 11, 2017 15:30:33 GMT -5
*Edited original post to include seed info
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 14, 2017 16:38:53 GMT -5
So I cut 3 of the biggest leaves off. They were exactly front, left and right on the plant, very symmetrical. You can see those big boys now sitting to the right of the basin.
 IMG_1024 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
And while cutting those off, I found my first flowers!!! 4 of them!! I have no idea if I need to pollinate these...
 IMG_1028 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2017 17:06:16 GMT -5
Following this project!
As for pollinating, I used my Bee just like the tomato pollination process. It just has to be shaken loose.
BTW...my Ophelia turned yellow with too many nutrients.
And..you have a lovely plant w/o all those horrid spikey spines!
Wishing you tremendous success! 
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Sept 14, 2017 18:51:04 GMT -5
How exciting on finding the buds! YAY
And those leaves are HUGE!
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 16, 2017 15:50:54 GMT -5
According to the seed packet, days to maturity is 50 from transplant. Mine is definitely behind that. I'm guessing that is because I did a hard prune/topping at first which delayed fruiting, as it can with pepper plants. Do you think so?
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Post by drbanks on Sept 16, 2017 16:04:02 GMT -5
I think those numbers of days to maturity are printed to make the rest of us feel like failures.
But that's just me.
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 19, 2017 11:57:53 GMT -5
I think those numbers of days to maturity are printed to make the rest of us feel like failures. But that's just me. Hah! Ok then, I'm going with that! |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 19, 2017 12:02:12 GMT -5
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Sept 19, 2017 13:55:36 GMT -5
This may not be the case but as a precaution check your plant carefully for mites or webs. Especially on the underside of leaves. Also do a Dump and refill to see if it helps.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 9:54:39 GMT -5
I remember that my Ophelia absolutely hated the nutrients . I think I fed it as if it were in a small machine.Perhaps the nutrients is the culprit? But you probably tried that already.
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 22, 2017 16:02:32 GMT -5
I remember that my Ophelia absolutely hated the nutrients . I think I fed it as if it were in a small machine.Perhaps the nutrients is the culprit? But you probably tried that already.
I don't think I have, actually. I did remember to keep my cuke nutes low like you said, but not this one. I'll do a R&R without new nutes and see if it improves. I am praying it's not mites or something. |
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 22, 2017 18:42:25 GMT -5
I just checked under the leaves and I don't see any webs or critters, at least to my naked eye. What I do see here on one of the oldest and affected leaves is almost coppery. It has a shimmer to it. When I run my finger across it nothing comes away. I wonder if it is some mineral imbalance. I have not done an R&R yet. I'm out of distilled water because of the new gardens.
 IMG_1088 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
Here are some pretty flowers close up. I have quite a lot of flowers now! Just when I almost terminated and started over, since nothing had developed after the plant should've been mature. I'm so glad I didn't. Here's hoping I get the nutes right.
 IMG_1089 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Sept 22, 2017 18:46:43 GMT -5
And here is a pic after once again removing many of the oldest, biggest and most affected leaves. So, it kind of looks like it did after my last prune, but with lots of flowers and buds lurking behind there. There are more affected leaves on the plant, but I'm afraid to take too much. I took a minimum of 8 leaves.
 IMG_1090 by Mary Kribs, on Flickr
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Shawn
Administrator
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Post by Shawn on Sept 22, 2017 19:29:46 GMT -5
It is a great sign that there are no critters. The flowers are pretty and love that color!
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MaryL
AGA Farmer
Posts: 3,532
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Post by MaryL on Oct 4, 2017 0:43:09 GMT -5
I am so dying to show you pictures of my teeny little eggplants that are finally emerging from the flowers, but my computer has suddenly and inexplicably gone dark. I have no idea what is wrong or how to fix it. Hopefully the folks at my office can figure it out. Otherwise I am dead in the water for sharing  pictures |
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pictures