Solanum melongena is the botanical name of the egg tree, a wild species of eggplant. Like the tomato, the bizarre plant belongs to the nightshade family. It is suitable as a house and garden plant and is relatively easy to propagate.
How do I propagate an egg tree (Solanum melongena)?
To propagate Solanum melongena, the egg tree, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours, sow them in nutrient-poor potting soil and keep them evenly moist at 20-28 °C. Germination takes 14-21 days and pricking out takes place after about 5 weeks.
How can I propagate Solanum melongena?
The fruits of the egg tree are edible, but only when ripe or heated. This attractive houseplant is also a useful plant. No wonder if you want to own several of them. Propagation usually takes place by sowing. You can get the seeds from seed stores or online. You even have the choice between different varieties.
The seeds of the egg tree germinate best if you water them for at least 24 hours before sowing. The water should be lukewarm. If you often water seeds (€6.00 on Amazon), then get a thermos flask for this. The water stays lukewarm for a long time, which further improves the effect of accelerating germs.
Sowing step by step
Pour high-quality, nutrient-poor potting soil into a suitable container (flower pot or seed tray). Alternatively, you can loosen up commercial potting soil a little by mixing it with sand. Distribute the watered seeds evenly on top. Sprinkle some substrate on the sowing and moisten it carefully. You may now want to put a transparent film over it to keep the moisture underneath constant.
Place the cultivation pots in a bright and warm place. Keep the seeds evenly moist there. However, the substrate must not be wet, otherwise the seeds will begin to rot instead of germinating. The first seedlings should be visible after two to three weeks. It will take another four to five weeks until pricking.
The most important things in brief:
- Watering seeds
- Keep sowing evenly moist
- Germination temperature: approx. 20 °C to 28 °C
- Germination time: between 14 and 21 days
- Do not prick until the size is 10 to 15 cm (after about 5 weeks)
Tip
If you use peat pots for cultivation, you will save yourself having to prick out the young plants. You can then transplant these straight away with the pots.
