The planting distance depends on the cultivar (more or less vigorous) and the location where the eggplant is planted (warmer or cooler areas).
Crop Rotation for Eggplant
Eggplant should only be grown on the same plot after 4 years, and its predecessors should not include other plants from the nightshade family (lat. Solanaceae). Eggplant is a good precursor for other types of vegetables.
Continuous cultivation on the same plots yields weaker results. In crop rotation, eggplant comes first because it is fertilized with manure. Good precursor crops include lettuce, radish, and green onions.
Open Field Cultivation of Eggplant
In continental areas, where eggplant develops up to 3 tiers of fruits due to the slightly cooler climate and shows less vigor, it is planted at a closer spacing. In Mediterranean areas, the spacing is greater because eggplant branches more and develops more fruits. The cultivation of eggplant is quite similar to that of tomatoes, so like tomatoes, it is grown from seedlings for garden production. In southern, warmer regions, planting seedlings begins somewhat later compared to tomatoes, from April 20-25, and lasts until May 10. In cooler, northern areas, the planting dates are shifted by about 20 days. The planting distance is 70 cm between rows and 40-50 cm within the row. After planting, eggplants should be well-watered with 1 – 1.5 liters of water per plant. Since eggplant roots slowly, the first hoeing should be done 20 – 25 days after planting.
