How to Grow Eggplants Perfectly Every Single Time
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
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Eggplants, tomatoes, or peppers? Pick your fav!
All 3!
Luv them all
Peppers all day everyday. Cherry tomatoes are the bomb tho not gonna lie
ALL! But if i had to choose, peppers
To eat or to grow? 😁
I have ADHD so trying to learn how to garden, as much as I wanted to; was too much. Until I stumbled across your channel about a year ago. You have made it so much easier to understand what I needed to know, you are informative, you chunk advice into smaller and targeted ways, you have good energy, you don’t over explain and bore your audience, and you aren’t vague with your titles (so it’s easy to find the information I’m looking for) Thank You 😊. Not only do I now have a decent grasp on gardening, but I enjoy it so much more then I thought I would.
Same here! It was so overwhelming at first because I was trying to learn everything about gardening all at once before ever starting a single seed lol.
Same with me too! Always great, short, fun advice!
@@grumpybear123 overthinking can be exhausting; the thing is with ADHD, we try to cram, but then it gets overwhelming and then the self doubt creeps in. The combination of being medicated, and finding a channel that is actually helpful; my garden is exploding with productivity. I don’t know if @Epic Gardening will ever truly know what he has done for those with executive functioning disorders. I am food secure for the first time in 34 years (growing up in poverty), and I almost gave up because of boring over-explaining on other channels.
@@The9thSerpent yes;.. not long dragging on droning explanations. Chunks of helpful information, that is easy to understand, and easy to go back to.
You sound weak. Cure ADHD with exercise. Now stop being a baby.
I accidentally made eggplant chips in the oven yesterday, and they were delicious! Little bit of salt, little bit of olive oil, and baked to a crisp.
😂
The absolute best
I am South African. Peel your eggplant, slice in rings, sprinkle salt on and leave till big droplets of water appear. Pat dry with papertowel. Cover in flour, dip in salted whisked egg and then cover in breadcrumbs. Fry in very little oil. Can be a replacement meat in vegetarian burger, but I love it just like that as a veg side to my meal.
Thank you
How thick of rings
Rings about 6-7mm thick
Thank you! 😊
I bought six really beat up black beauty eggplants from a big box store in June for cheap...thought i could save them. BIG MISTAKE...a little TLC and they are now 4 to 5 feet tall and I am awamped with fruit...lol
Sounds like the best kind of mistake!
Oooh big box big mistake!
More like, "Feed ME, Seymour!"
What type of soil and fertilizers did you use? I'm using the (wicking tub) method that I learned from (Gardening with Leon) which is 2/3 thirds peat moss and 1/3 potting mix with a 4" diameter irrigation black tube cut 3' and 3" inches long for a water resivior at the bottom of 18 gallon Husky Hauler buckets with rope handles I got from Smart and Final. This method stores water at the bottom of the bucket that wicks up through the soil so that you don't need to water every day, only two to three times a week is all that's needed. It's stores about 3 gallons of water at the bottom in the 4" irrigation black tube and you know it's full when you see water trickle out of the side drain hole that's 3 1/4" off the bottom of the bucket. You add water to the reservoir by a 1" PVC pipe that goes through the 4" irrigation tube that's wrapped with commercial weed barrier fabric to keep the soil out of the irrigation tube. Also what I did to improve the drainage flow of the drain hole was Gorilla Tape a peace of aluminum screen over the inside of the bucket and after the irrigation tube and weed fabric is in place I put pea gravel next to the drainage hole with the aluminum screen where the two ends of the irrigation tube meet together and filled that small area with gravel. On the opposite side if the bucket from the drain hole is where you drill a hole with a 1 5/16" hole saw through the 4" irrigation tube and that's done after you bend the irrigation tube to fit the bottom of the bucket and placed at the bottom, but before you cover the 4"tube with weed barrier fabric. This improved drainage because after a while the soil would block the drainage hole and you end up putting to much water in the bottom that way. Now as soon as the water reservoir is full you see it right away and it makes flushing out the reservoir much easier and quicker. Check our (Gardening with Leon) for all the details on how to do this method. 😊
I've been growing Japanese eggplants for about 4 years. My favorite cooking method is to slice it lengthwise, then using pesto (fresh is best but store bought is good too), or a mix of olive oil with minced garlic and parmesan cheese, slather evenly over the cut sides. Roast at 400°F for about 15-25 min (depending on size) until tender. It is soooo sweet and absolutely melts in your mouth. Enjoy!!
I grew those for the first time last year, and far prefer them to the more common large Black Beauty variety, which I find can get tough and a bit bitter. The Japanese were never bitter, nice thin skin and tender creamy flesh. I usually brush with olive oil infused with fresh garlic & herbs and roasted or grilled. I love eggplant Parmesan but never thought to use pesto. I will now! Thank you 😊
Have you ever kept a plant longer then a growing season.
@@pledgeyourallegiance8530 - no. They are annuals where I live (zone 6a).
@@pledgeyourallegiance8530 than*
Wife from Brazil taught me a delicious way to prepare eggplant! This is my take on it:
We slice the eggplant long (2-3 x 3/4” slices) drop into boiling water and cover with lid for 5-10 minutes (based on firmness preference). Pull from water and set on paper towel to absorb moisture.
Brown some ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
Place eggplant slices in a baking pan and top with ground beef. Sprinkle heavy mozzarella cheese.
Top with a mixture of buttered panko crumbs, seasoned with smoked paprika, and Parmesan cheese
Pop that into the oven at 400° or broil until golden brown and serve!
Enjoy!
Yum!
i wanna try this
I've been using alot of eggplant for grilling. Slice it into rounds, then mix it into a bowl with a small amount of balsamic, olive oil, salt and pepper. After one side gets some good browning, I flip and add some Fontina cheese. When it melts and browns, delicous!
Sounds delicious!
I don't know if you take recommendations on other youtube channels, but Refika's Kitchen has some great eggplant recipes. She is in Turkey and, from what I understand, it is a staple of the cuisine.
I have never grown eggplant, but I have eaten Greek Moussaka which is made with eggplant and creamy bechamel sauce on top. Excellent!
Another fabulous eggplant dish! I think I’ll plant extra this year 😁
I'm doing a eggplant garden this year. 9 varieties. Real successful last year with a couple diff varieties so I went with 11diff sources 9 diff kinds. Just one hybrid black beauty and one heirloom and one from a larger seed supplier. Wish me luck. I'm doing garlic and potatoes and a lot of green beans as well. You know how it goes. No land is safe lol
I'm growing eggplant for the 1st time in my garden this year. I always refer to your channel 1st when I decide to try growing something new. Thanks for sharing!!!
Keep on growing!!!
Grilled to a nice smokey flavor, then made into baba ganoush. Also in eggplant parmesan. Two of my favorite eggplant 🍆 dishes 😋
Agreed! These 2 dishes alone would make it worth growing, for me.
I live in Southern California. When the extreme cold season comes around, I cut my eggplants back to the ground, and they come back in Spring. I get some nice small eggplants early but, like you said, when the heat comes around, they really get big.
Really? You cut them off at soil level? 😮 What lol
Extreme cold in socal huh 😂
Thanks, Kevin. Very valuable information.
We usually cut eggplant into slices and sprinkle salt over the slices and leave them for around 10min.
This draws out moisture as well as bitterness some eggplants have. We then wash the slices and discard the bitter brine from the eggplant. We then typically use it in a curry or fry it.
eggplant parmesan got me into eggplants! I've been obsessed with them ever since
I'm growing the "patio baby" mini eggplant and it was great sauteed w/ garlic and lemon basil
I'll be experimenting this year with heavy pruning of the sideshoots to train it up a string like a tomato after seeing Charles Dowding do it that way.
Has anyone else had experience with this method?
I like to take my tomato sauce and basil and make egg plant parm dishes. My favorite. I use coconut oil to fry it in then fresh mutz on the top. Throw in the oven for about 35min to 45min on 350. Super tasty. The coconut oil is key for me. It brings a nice sweet flavor to the breaded fried eggplant. I do the same with chicken cutlets or parm.
Thank you for the great info!! If you're still looking for a recipe, try making a dip. Roast several eggplants, scoop out the flesh into medium bowl, add fresh minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice and some olive oil. Mash together and enjoy with warm pita : )
Love this video! Thank you for sharing right till the harvest, and reminding us to harvest it with the peduncle. I didn’t realize that if it shows a lot of seeds, it has been harvested a little late. I’ll definitely try to harvest earlier this round!
Here on Cape Cod. Eggplant parmigiana is my go to dish, usually buy the small plants end of May, early June… Don’t return home until mid April, maybe will try from seed next year… perhaps my favorite plant to grow…
Just harvested one today! Thank you for the videos - Straw mulch helped a lot and going to get Epic 4-cell tray for next season. Try Indian Recipes like Baingan Bharta (like a mash), Bharli Vangi, Vangi Bhaat or even Mediterranean Baba Ghanoush
I'm also growing the Japanese ichiban variety. I've gotten a good harvest so far. Even gave some away bc we had so much
The pop-up intros and the cane are everything for me.
Haha. What? The clip at the end was so funny. 🤣 You are a wizard. 🧙
Imam Bayildi is the ultimate eggplant dish IMO. Great video.
Hi!...My favorite way of eating eggplant is to slice about 1/4" thick, sprinkle salt and let it sit for about 30 minute or so covered with paper towel. Pat dry, drizzle olive oil all over then gill till nice and brown on both sides. Lay them on a plate, add cherry tomatoes, basil and feta cheese. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar a little sea salt and black pepper. Let me know when you make it :)
oh man.. I use this same eggplant in Thai basil eggplant stir fry and it is my jam! I know that these aren't the Thai variety but it works for me. The way eggplant soaks up the stir fry sauce.. *chef's kiss*. For this reason I always have Thai chilis and basil growing in my garden. As a bonus, all 3 plants can withstand this brutal Austin summer. :)
Try to make a Filipino eggplant salad (not sure of the official name.) I have 10 plants and this dish has been a good way to eat a lot of it. It has diced tomato, and onions (red or white), soy sauce, lemon. You grill the eggplant until really soft and mash it with a fork then mix with the other ingredients. Amazing with rice plus fried or grilled meat. Our favorite pairing is rice with Filipino pork bbq.
Olive oil (I use Spanish for the heavier flavor) salt, pepper, garlic. Grill it like a steak.
Also, a neat trick the stop having to try and slice through thick parts of the flesh, use a peeler to remove some strips before slicing. It will be easier to eat, you'll get skin, and the eggplant will have a zebra look to it.
I love eggplant stewd with potatoes and the japanese one to curry. Growing several for the first in years. Good to have a garden again.
The two best eggplant dishes, by far, are imam bayildi and lamb moussaka. Perfection.
Eggplant Kevin blessed us at the end of the video!
Char on grill, drain and chop finely. Make homemade Mayo with just egg yolk and avocado oil. Mix and grade some onion and add some salt. Wonderful spread. A Romanian favorite, vinete, we call it.
I love growing eggplant. It’s such a lovely plant itself. Though like you, I haven’t found that great recipe yet. Still working on it. Love your channel ❤️🍆
Great video Kevin. On my farm here in Thailand those "Thai Round" plants grow like weeds, I'm constantly, and reluctantly, cutting them down.
Growing eggplant for the first time I have 4 very healthy looking plants so video came at the perfect time
I’m growing my favorite eggplant, Santana. It’s prolific and I love it best cut up as fries or rounds and fried up with a cornmeal fish fry and flour coating...amazingly delicious!
Thanks for teaching me how to grow this🙏 now I know I can graft potato and eggplant as well. thanks!
Eggplant chopped up and in some pasta sauce is one of the best way's I have ever eaten it. Bonus points if you can grill/smoke the eggplant. A dollop of ricotta on top of your pasta and omg it's amazing.
stuffed eggplant and panko baked eggplant are my favorites
Growing Asian Delite variety from Johnny's Seeds this year. Super delicious, prolific variety (long, thin and light purple/lavender). Just harvested my own honker - a 12-incher.
Grill it and take the skin off leaving the stem, use fork to spread the flesh in a plate.
Beat 2 to 3 eggs in a bowl and seasoned it with salt and pepper, dunk the eggplant in the bowl of beaten eggs using the stem and fry it in a medium heat oil enough to cooked it well. I love it
This is the best way you can cook eggplants, it's one of my absolute favorites but I can't stand eggplants in any other dish
Don't forget the ground beef (and ketchup)😁
Try a braising the eggplant with sweet potatoes and peppers in a sweet and spicy sauce (I'm lazy and mix together gochujang, homemade grape jelly, and soy sauce). It is the epitome of summer
First year growing eggplant, looking forward to using them
I grow ping tung long eggplant in containers on my patio. They are really nice eggplant and tasty. Easy to grow, lots of fruit, and in Texas (Houston) they are a perennial 😁
My favorite way to eat them is to cube them up and air fry with olive oil salt and pepper. After crispy toss in a sweet and spicy Asian sauce... so yummy!
If you like pasta dishes, try making pasta alla Norma! I've made it so much with my eggplants and my 4 kids (ages 4-8) have been loving it!
Grill with garlic and chili paste on top…delicious!!
My three favorite was to consume eggplant are as follows:
1. Berenjenas fritas-Spanish style fried eggplant covered in goat cheese and honey
2. Eggplant parm
3. Chinese style eggplant in garlic sauce
I loooove eggplant Parmigiano my fave way to eat eggplant!!!
Eggplant parmagiana. Honestly, it's how I learned to love eggplant. So good 🤤 It made growing them so worthwhile!
I love making eggplant lasagna, either substituting the sheet noodles for slices eggplant or alternating between the two. Its seriously the best thing i ever made
Kevin,
What variety of eggplant did you harvest? I love edibles that are also ornamental & the dark purple stems & dark leaves on that variety are stunnung!
Btw, I was BBQing chicken & went w/ the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid)--halved the eggplant, dipped it in the BBQ sauce, & threw it on the grill toward the end of cooking the chicken. Delish!
We make eggplant tofu often. Copycat Panda recipe is so easy!
I’m growing eggplant for the first time ever this year, a variety called Rosita. I planted it in a 7gal grow bag on my deck in zone 5b and it’s doing awesome and has had no problems! It has a beautiful pink fruit and is so prolific even in my zone. Highly recommend this variety to beginners.
I am growing this too. I just harvested my first one. Gonna cook tomorrow
Can’t wait to try this from seed! Good to know it worked for you
This is so helpful, thank you! A month ago I was searching far and wide to figure out if it was safe to eat a homegrown eggplant with fully developed seeds. Most places just said it would be bad, and one article hinted it would be bitter. I sadly composted a bunch of eggplant to be safe because there were a ton of seeds (in a really pretty pattern inside, actually) but I'm wondering what your thoughts are. Would it just be bitter? Is there a health risk? My Beauty Hybrid and Ichiban plants in big containers are putting out another round here in Austin even in this 105F heat and while I'll try to pick them earlier this time, I am also tempted to make *something* out of them even if I discover seeds again. I LOVE your channel and super appreciate the clear, concise way you explain things!
Eggplants with seeds are still edible. The only difference is you get the little crunch from the seeds when you eat it. When I was in the Philippines growing up, even the cucumber with seeds are normal for eating. I noticed here in the US that people prefer seedless.
I have eaten them with seeds,not a lot of difference, some times i will cut them out!😊
Live in Bonita and I have one right now from last year
Cut them like steak , brush them with a mixture of freshly grounded garlic, black pepper, little red chilli flakes , salt in the oil , then BBQ or air fry or even roast them in the oven. Serve it with whatever sauce you like . I use plain greek yogurt with salt and mint flakes
Thanks for the great info on eggplants - I think they are one of the prettiest produce plants but I've never been fond of them to eat, however I did come across a recipe for eggplant "meatballs" that looked really good, so my plan is to make some veggie meatballs & burger patties and see if I like them that way as they are so healthy to eat!
If you like Italian, look up a recipe for caponata and try that. You can also try eggplant parmigiana, but that's more of a cool weather dish. If you prefer Asian style, try this recipe (not sure of name): Saute chopped eggplant in dutch oven, cook down until tender, stirring frequently. At the same time, make some pasta (a thick, hollow pasta such as cavatappi or rigatoni works well). Meanwhile, caramelize onions and sauteed garlic. When finished, add miso, rice vinegar, soy sauce, onion, and garlic to eggplant, cook to combine, and mix in pasta. Enjoy! 👩🍳👌
Cut in slices. Soak in salted water for 15 min, and pat dry a bit. Dunk in flour, then egg, then itailian breadcrumbs and pan fry. Serve with tzatziki sauce (cucumber shredded and strained, thick yogurt, grated garlic, lemon, bit of olive oil and salt). My favourites are the round sicilian eggplant and long asian varieties. You can also try making moussaka or eggplant parmesan. Or add them to green thai curry.
its cooked often in the Caribbean with meat as a stew alongside rice
7:23 that’s awesome, looks like a giant slug! lol
Mousakka! 😋😋😋 Best use ever for eggplant!
Eggplant casserole is sooooo good.
Eggplant Parmesan is always a great option!
Thank you very much for sharing this video. Wish you all success....
Kevin, when you are choosing which eggplant to pick. You want to feel your eggplants firmness. Once your eggplant begins to get softer to touch and is beginning to lose that firmness to it. It's getting to it's perfect picking stage. Taste good eating it raw too.
Kevin my newfound favorite eggplant dish is Shakshuka! Also my telltale sign if eggplant is ready is by putting light pressure with my fingernail and if it the indent bounces back then its ready.
After covid, I'm learning how to eggplant again
I love growing black beauty - we slice it up, salt, pepper, olive oil, roast it in the oven. It's simply delicious.
Loved growing Ichiban eggplant in Florida zone 9a, in raised beds. Long and somewhat skinny variety, I would slice up, on mandolin, slicing thicker chips sized, then egg, bread with panko and pan fry… omg so delicious, cause I don’t like eggplant otherwise. Perfect with a little ranch… 💋🤌
Thank you. I love Eggplant 🍆 🥰😊🥰
Love that opening, popping out of the bushes 👻
so simple! I notice a big difference in the health of my eggplants depending on the soil. They do well in top soil, not so well, they stay stunted when grown in ordinary clay soil we get in my region.
I chaos planted last year just to see what would make it in my patio and surprisingly NY eggplant is the only survivor. Now I'm determined to keep it alive
That a big black one you got right there👌🏻
Figure out how to make melitzano it’s a Greek eggplant dip with dill and green onions, you eat it with fresh pita and boy is it delicious!
sliced egg plant length ways , fry in olive oil and the place on a slice of bread with butter add a sprinkle of salt and it's delicious
My favorites this year are ethiopian aubergines also named The Turkish eggplant aka scarlet eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum). These are orange and red striped ones. Also thei originate from Africa not Asia. And they grew so well in pots only one got decimated by ants.
Love your videos thank you
Best eggplant recipe! Cut into spears boil intill soft drain innfrying pan put some oil and fry it will get slightly golden add oyster sauce, garlic, blackbean laganma, soy sauce and a bit of sugar (can also add some pork small bits if you like or in the frying process some spicy fresh peppers)
In Trinidad, we make eggplant (we also call it "melongene" or "baigan") choka. Kinda like baba ghanoush but not quite. We roast it with garlic, scoop out the flesh and crush it with culantro and pepper, then add very hot oil and mix. It tastes soooo good. I've been harvesting a ton of eggplants and that's what I do with them.
Sounds fantastic
That sounds so good!
It's in the peanut family I found out when my son had an allergic reaction to it. Love the stuff curried.
Eggplant is in the nightshade family (solanaceae). Lots of people have nightshade allergies, very common. Be cautious with your kid around tobacco smoke, since tobacco is also a nightshade, and inhaling a whole lungful of allergen would be bad.
Ok so based on your comment I had to research. No life threatening allergies here, but the protein structures of fruits and veggies related to it is interesting. Now I’m down a rabbit hole of info. I’m sorry for the related allergen concerns for your son but thanks for a thought provoking comment!
Thank you Eric
Hurray for eggplant!
Try chopping the eggplant up with mince beef and stuffing a capsicum or another eggplant by making a boat with each half, throw some cheese on top and bake it in the oven.
Try eggplant tempura style or breaded. My family didn't like it until I served it to them that way. Anything fried is always going to be good. HAHA.
I imagine butter or even brown butter and fresh minced garlic would be an amazing flavor combo for egg plant to sponge up. Sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan. Over cooked egg plant is icky.
I like ping tung. It is beautiful and tasty.
Thanks Kevin, good tips to know trying to grow eggplant from seed the first time this year. I've been enjoying eggplant in ratatouille recently.
Thanks for the great video, the plants look great! Can you tell us what is the variety called of the eggplant you picked?
Egg plant. Slice it long ways about 1/8 of an inch lay them out like lasagna shells in a pan 9x9 inch.
Layer with lasagna shells then layer with egg plant, ricotta and egg mix. sauce with meat in it, then mozzarella cheese, then start over with layers. End with mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or when cheese starts to bubble. .yummmmy
Then withe the big fat egg plant, cut in 3/4 inch rounds, place them all on cookie sheet spaced out inch between sliced rounds.
Put pizza sauce, bacon bits on each round. Then cover the top of each round with mozzarella cheese for a great egg plant pizza.
Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until cheese is bubbling real good like a pizza don't burn them.
And last.
Egg plant cut in 1x1 pieces and put in homemade spaghetti sauce and cook. Then you can also put the pieces in stews or even chicken soup.
You want young firm egg plant for these recipes though. And season all of these to taste.
Your welcome and enjoy.
Thinly slice and marinate in a soy sauce, then you can either grill them or batter them in a tempura batter and fry. Make a nice creamy pepper sauce for dipping. Enjoy.
I live in Miami this definitely grows here out weather is perfect I have a question I'm doing planters.. so dirt soil then covered with mulch
In the Philippines we make a tortang talong
I love that you kept calling them honkers 🤣
LMAO they def are
CORRECTION PLEASE: Solenaceae, as well as corn and quinoa are native to Central and South America and were developed and cultivated by people’s native to this region for millennia. They were exported to other continents such as Eurasia (Europe and Asia) and Africa through colonization. All of these crops have been further developed by the people to whom they were exported.
The way I really like eggplant is at a dimsum place where they stuff it with shrimp