Vol. 123 (2010): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Vegetable

Growing and Marketing Eggplant at Local Green Markets in Southeast Florida

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  • Kenneth D. Shuler,
  • Pei-Ann N. Shuler,
  • Stephen J. Nie
Photos: Florida contains over half the wild orchid species found in the United States, at roughly 100 species. The endangered Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) makes its home in the area of southern Florida known as the Big Cypress Swamp (including the

Published 2010-12-01

Keywords

  • compost,
  • farmers’ market,
  • garden,
  • plastic mulch

Abstract

The growers for Stephen’s Produce began growing and marketing eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) in 2001 to help supply local green markets with a weekend supply of “garden fresh” produce. A Sicilian type of eggplant obtained from a local grower was grown from 2001 to 2004 and ‘Rosa Bianca’, an Italian heirloom cultivar, was grown from 2005 to 2010. In 2008-09 three plantings were made with transplants set out on 14 Aug., 24 Sept., and 19 Nov. Eggplant was sold at all of the 28 weekends for the sales season, which began 20 Oct. and concluded 26 Apr. Eggplant was usually grown on beds covered with polyethylene mulch. Eggplants were sold for $1.00 to 3.00 per fruit and, in 2008–09, an average of 26 eggplants were sold each week for an average of $36 per week.
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References

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