- As a tropical plant, eggplants may suffer damage if exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and seeds will not germinate with temperatures below 60 degrees. Successful germination requires temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit -- the exact ideal temperature varies between eggplant varieties. Bottom heat, insulating covers or plastic bags may be helpful or required to maintain warm soil temperatures.
- The soil surrounding the seed should never be allowed to dry out prior to germination. Regular misting, as opposed to watering, will help maintain high soil moisture while preventing seeds from washing away or becoming deeply buried. Once seedlings emerge, only water as needed to keep the soil surface most to the touch to prevent damping-off or other fungal problems.
- Seeds planted improperly may struggle to germinate or emerge from the soil. Plant eggplant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in seed pots or flats that contain a rich soil mixture or a mixture specifically designated for germinating seeds, such as a peat/vermiculite or perlite medium.
- Eggplant seeds typically do not last for more than a few years in storage or less if the seeds were stored improperly. Expect decreased germination rates if the seeds are more than 4 to 7 years old.
- Seed treatments may improve seed rates of germination. Certain preparations may improve an eggplant seed's ability to germinate under colder-than-ideal soil temperatures.
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