How to Propagate Eggplants

Start your eggplant seeds six weeks before the last expected frost date. Add potting soil to a shallow tray or seedling flat. Insert the seeds 1/4-inch deep into the soil. Water the seeds until the soil is evenly moist but not saturated.

Place the tray under a heat lamp or in a room where the temperature is approximately 80 degrees. Eggplant seeds require the soil be near 80 degrees for successful germination.

Reduce the overall temperature gradually by turning the heat lamp off for longer periods of time each day. Start with an hour during daylight hours and all night then turn it off for two hours and all night the following day. Continue doing this up to transplantation to help harden the seedlings. Transplant the seeds when the soil reaches a consistent temperature of 60 degrees. Typically, the soil warms to the proper temperature two to three weeks after the last frost.

Fertilize a raised bed by mixing in composted manure or a 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer to approximate a 33 percent increase in soil volume. Plant the eggplant seedlings with a gap of 18 to 24 inches between them. If you plant multiple rows, space them 30 to 36 inches apart. Spread netting over the rows, if necessary, to protect the plants from aphids and similar pests.