Growing Hydroponic Fairy Tale Eggplants are a great use of pod space, and are super easy if you know how. In this post, I will walk you through the steps to begin your Hydroponic Fairy Take Eggplant!

Let’s get started!

Fairy Tale Eggplants are a blast to grow. This plant is a miniature Eggplant. The fruit is purple with white stripes. While the surface is a tough skin, the inside has a couple little seeds. The fruit has a non bitter and sweet taste.

The fruit will grow into a small long oval shape. The size it will grow to is about 2 1/2 feet tall, and will weigh about 1 -2 ounce. You can expect fruit to appear in about 49 – 51 days.

Hydroponic Fairy Tale Eggplant

If you’re looking to boost your gardening game, why not try hydroponics? And if you’re looking for a plant that thrives in this system, look no further than the eggplant. This vegetable is a superstar in the hydroponic world, growing faster and better than it would in traditional soil gardens.

One of the benefits of growing eggplants in hydroponics is that they have a longer germination period than other plants. It may take a little more patience, but the payoff is worth it in the end. The hydroponic system provides the perfect environment for the eggplant to grow, with optimal water, nutrient, and light levels.

When planting your eggplants in a hydroponic system, it’s important to give them plenty of space. While some growers recommend only one plant per system, you can definitely plant two. Just make sure to plant them on opposite sides of each other to avoid overcrowding. Eggplants are known to grow thorns, so be sure to wear gloves when handling them.

Ready to harvest and eat in about 50 days after germination, but many growers have issues with pollinating these! Use a Q-Tip and lightly tap on the flowers. Once you see pollen fall, or have some on the end of the Q-Tip then you are doing it right. Be very gentle when doing this process, you can risk the flower falling from the plant, even days after.

Growing Hydroponic Eggplant Indoors

NewMoore gives a nice time lapse of his Eggplant, starting  at day 23 after germination. This is a great video to watch so you know what to expect before planting these.

The nutrients he used is the MasterBlend 4-18-38 Complete Combo Kit with Calcium and Epsom Salt. The glow light that he used is the HLG 65 V2 4000K Horticulture Lighting Group Quantum Board LED Grow Light, with the Rockwool for starting. He did cover the Rockwool to protect from algae buildup.

Aeroponic Fairy Tale Eggplant

Eggplants are a popular vegetable that can be grown in a variety of ways, including in an aeroponic system. Aeroponics is a soil-free method of growing plants that uses a nutrient-rich mist to deliver water and nutrients directly to the roots of the plants. If you’re interested in growing eggplants in an aeroponic system, here are some steps to follow:

Choose the Right Eggplant Variety

There are many different varieties of eggplants, but not all of them are suitable for aeroponic systems. Look for eggplant varieties that are known to perform well in hydroponic or aeroponic setups. Some good options include Black Beauty, Rosa Bianca, and Long Purple.

Prepare the Aeroponic System

To grow eggplants in an aeroponic system, you’ll need to set up the system first. This will involve installing the necessary equipment, such as a nutrient reservoir, pump, and misting nozzles. You’ll also need to choose a growing medium for your eggplants, such as rockwool or coconut coir.

Plant the Eggplants

Once your aeroponic system is set up, it’s time to plant your eggplants. Start by germinating the seeds in a separate container until they sprout. Then, carefully transfer the seedlings to the aeroponic system, making sure to space them out properly.

Provide Nutrients and Water

In an aeroponic system, water and nutrients are delivered directly to the roots of the plants through a misting system. You’ll need to monitor the pH and nutrient levels in the reservoir regularly to ensure that your eggplants are getting the right balance of nutrients.

Maintain the System

To keep your eggplants healthy and productive, you’ll need to maintain the aeroponic system properly. This will include monitoring the pH and nutrient levels, checking for pests and diseases, and pruning the plants as needed. You’ll also need to clean the system regularly to prevent algae and bacteria buildup.

Harvest the Eggplants

Once your eggplants are mature, it’s time to harvest them. Look for eggplants that are firm and shiny, with a uniform color. Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the eggplants from the plant, being careful not to damage the stem or leaves.

Growing eggplants in an aeroponic system can be a rewarding and productive way to grow this delicious vegetable. With the right equipment, techniques, and care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, healthy eggplants all season long.

Indoor Fairy Tale Eggplant

Indoor Eggplants may seem harder to do, but it’s easier than you think. You can plant these in a pot of soil, or in a 5 gallon bucket with water and the correct nutrients. Just change your water every few days, and that the bucket will not allow sunlight into the container. This will avoid the algae that want to grow. These will grow 2-3 feet, so you will need to stack these plants up so it won’t drop.

Pruning

Should you prune a Eggplant? Yes, this is great for a long term solution. Note that Eggplants have tiny spikes that can prick your skin, so wear nice heavy gloves while doing so. Prune your plant once it has gotten some fruit. If you notice that it’s starting to look off, then prune. When pruning this massive plant, you will want to keep the shape of the three strong stems. Leave the first main stem, as well as the two other ones that seem to diverge from the base. Remove all the rest of the stems, but keep the most healthiest, stronger ones. This can be drastic at first, but your plant will thank you later with a new harvest. You will need to remove the suckers of the plant, these are the tiny stems that sprout from the base, much like tomato suckers. This will allow the plant to focus its energy on the fruit, growing larger and more impressive eggplants.

Pest Control

Growing inside definitely helps the issue of pests. If your plant is near a door, or an open window then you may have a few pest floating around. Eggplants themselves do not attract many pests, thankfully. When growing outside, you can run into the problem of pests such as: Flea Beetles, Hornworms, Aphids, Cutworms, Mites, Powdery Mildew, Blossom-End Rot, and Cercospora. This is why we LOVE growing plants indoors!

Diseases

No growers want to deal with any types of diseases on their precious plants. But unfortunately, this tends to happen. One disease to be on the lookout for, is the Verticillium Wilt. This is a common fungal disease that enters the plant through openings, working its way up to the stem. Then blocking the supply of water and nutrients to the leaves.

Tips & Tricks

• When growing the Fairy Tale Eggplants, or Eggplants in general, be very gentle with them. During the growing process, this plant is very fragile.
• Replace the water weekly to prevent nutrient burn
• Try to not grow anything else in your system
• When you are pollinating these, be super gentle. People say to use a Q-Tip and firmly tap the flowers at the base. This will visibly release a bit on pollen.
• If the leaves get too big, trim off the larger leaves to accommodate space for the smaller leaves. You need to make sure that all flowers and vegetables are getting the right amount of light from the grow light.
• The biggest advice for growing these, is to avoid over planting. These produce very well and for a long time.
• Pick you Eggplants before the color begins to dull, or even greys. The fruit can become too tough, and you may not be able to eat it.
• The more you harvest your Eggplants, the more they grow.
• If you notice that your plant isn’t getting the right amount of water and nutrients, you may need to do a root clean up. This is when you cut an inch or two off of the roots. The roots can begin to clog, and this gives it more access to soak more water up. This does not harm the plant, but brings it back to life. It’s like giving your plant a haircut, but with its roots.