Live & Grow Issue 49

Grow Corn,
Eggplants
and Cucurbits
12
Corn, eggplants and cucurbits are some of
the trickiest veggies to grow. But with some
know-how, we will ensure you get the best crop
possible. There are several things these families
of plants have in common that are essential for
getting them to grow strong and healthy.
Frost - all are extremely frost tender and coldsensitive.
Ideally, wait until late October before
planting outside, and unless your glasshouse is
heated, early to mid-October is ideal.
Wind - a big killer for them all, especially cucurbits
and eggplants. If you must plant in a high wind zone,
plant later in the season and surround the plants
with a windbreak to protect them.
Water - not too much, especially when the plants
are young, as they will rot and die. Only water when
dry. As any fruit develops, increase your watering
slightly to help the fruit swell, but then reduce again
at harvest to help keep it more flavoursome.
Temperature - they all need heat to flourish, and
the optimum temperature needs to be over 18°C
and get no lower at night than 8°C. In a lot of NZ,
this is hard to maintain. Using Mikroclima to create
an insulated area is ideal in these cases.
Sunlight - Plant in an area with at least six hours
of sunlight. If you don't have a spot in the garden that
will provide six hours’ of light, consider pots (for all
except corn) and move them around to follow the
sun.
Soil - Incorporate plenty of compost and sheep
pellets at planting to replenish the garden, or use
Oderings Fruit & Veggie Mix in pots. The soil needs to
be well-drained for success.
CORN - Corn likes to be planted in blocks of ideally
3x3 plants or more. Don't plant in a single long row or
sporadically throughout the garden; the blocks are
essential to help with pollination. Because they grow
so tall, they may need staking in high wind areas
as the plants grow. Corn only takes 3-4 months to
produce, so don't plant in cold areas until November.
You can tell when corn is ready to harvest because
the ears, which are held tightly to the plant's stem
as it grows, will start to move away from the stem.
When it is at a 45° angle, it should be ready. Corn
needs to ripen on the plant, so don't harvest too early.
EGGPLANT - The better the soil, the better they will
grow. Eggplants (aubergines) need a lot of sun and a
long, hot summer to produce. They take around three
months to produce, and in cold areas shouldn't be