Seed preparation
Sow the seed as it is. In Indian nurseries TNAU coats seed with the beneficial fungus Trichoderma viride (4 g per kg of seed) or Pseudomonas fluorescens (10 g per kg) before sowing to reduce damping-off.
Visit deodar-seeds.in 
Vegetable growing guide
Eggplant needs real warmth to sprout and grow. Raise seedlings in a nursery bed or trays, transplant them after about a month, and pick the fruits young and glossy.
Sow the seed as it is. In Indian nurseries TNAU coats seed with the beneficial fungus Trichoderma viride (4 g per kg of seed) or Pseudomonas fluorescens (10 g per kg) before sowing to reduce damping-off.
Not needed. Eggplant seed takes up water readily.
Not needed. It is a warm-season crop; cold only delays germination.
Not needed. Warmth of the sowing mix matters far more than pre-soaking.
Keep the mix at 24-29 °C (75-85 °F). In temperate climates use a heating mat or warm room; on the Indian plains open nursery beds are warm enough in the TNAU sowing seasons of December-January and May-June.
About 0.6 cm (1/4 in). In nursery beds sow in lines 10 cm (4 in) apart and cover with fine sand; in trays sow one seed per cell and cover with cocopeat.
Sterile seed mix or cocopeat in trays, or raised nursery beds 1 m wide in well-drained soil. TNAU needs about 100 m2 of nursery (400 g seed of open-pollinated varieties, 200 g of hybrids) to plant one hectare.
Keep the mix evenly moist but not soggy. Heating mats dry trays quickly, so check daily. Avoid waterlogged beds, which encourage damping-off.
No light is needed under the cover. Give strong light as soon as shoots appear, or seedlings stretch and lean.
Seed comes up quickly in a warm mix and slowly or unevenly when it is cool.
If you sowed in a flat, move seedlings to cells or pots 5-7.5 cm (2-3 in) apart once true leaves appear, and keep them under bright light.
Plant out 30-35-day-old seedlings (TNAU) or 6-8-week-old transplants in cool climates, after nights stay above 10 °C (50 °F). Harden plants off for one to two weeks first. TNAU spaces open-pollinated varieties 60 x 60 cm (24 x 24 in) and hybrids 90 x 60 cm (36 x 24 in).
Water after planting and then about weekly. TNAU applies well-rotted manure and a balanced NPK dose at planting and a nitrogen top dressing about 30 days later.
Harvest when fruits reach full size for the variety but are still shiny and firm; dull, spongy fruits are overripe and may be bitter. Cut the stalk with shears instead of pulling.
TNAU starts picking 55-60 days after transplanting and harvests every 4-5 days; regular picking keeps the plant setting fruit.
TNAU lists varieties CO 2, MDU 1, PKM 1 and KKM 1 and hybrids COBH 1 and COBH 2 for Tamil Nadu. Long, round and cluster types are all grown the same way.
Compact and small-fruited types do well in large containers in full sun; water steadily so fruit does not drop.
Start eggplant seeds in warmth and transplant young plants into full sun for a long harvest.
Eggplant (Brinjal) Pusa purple long SeedsSolanum melongenafrom 
Eggplant green long SeedsSolanum melongenafrom 
Eggplant purple round SeedsSolanum melongenafrom 
Eggplant siliguri long SeedsSolanum melongenafrom 
Small Cluster Brinjal Eggplant SeedsSolanum melongenafrom 
Thornless eggplant SeedsSolanum melongenafrom Usually the mix is too cold. Eggplant needs at least about 16 °C (60 °F) and germinates best at 24-32 °C (75-90 °F). Use a heating mat or wait for warm weather.
It is normally raised as seedlings and transplanted after about a month in the nursery. This gives the young plants warmth and protection and saves seed.
TNAU sows in December-January and May-June in Tamil Nadu and transplants the seedlings 30-35 days later.