Soil
Warm, fertile, and well drained.
Position
Full sun.
Frost tolerant
A semi-tropical plant; cannot tolerate frost.
Feeding
From midsummer onward, drench with a liquid feed every two weeks.
Companions
Catnip, Marigold, Beans, Pepper and Tarragon.
Spacing
Single Plants: 1′ 3″ (40cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1′ 1″ (35cm) with 1′ 5″ (45cm) row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Sow indoors 6 weeks before last spring frost, or buy seedlings in late spring. Transplant to larger pots if needed. Plant out in late spring, when the weather is settled and warm.
Notes
Stake plants to keep them from falling over when they become heavy with fruit. Mulch to keep soil lightly moist.
Harvesting
Use pruning shears to cut fruits from the stem. Perfect fruits have shiny skins and only a few immature seeds inside.
Troubleshooting
Use rowcovers to keep plants warm while protecting them from flea beetles. Remove covers when plants begin blooming so the starry purple flowers can be pollinated by bees.
