There are many varieties of eggplants and they come in all shapes and sizes. The most common eggplant is called black beauty.

There are a number of great dishes you can make with eggplant including my favorite eggplant parmesan.

If eggplant is not part of your home vegetable garden you really should consider it. They are easy to grow with a little care and a couple of plants can produce all the of the eggplant you will need for an entire growing season.

If you plan on starting your eggplant from seed, as opposed to buying a plant from a local home or garden center, you should start them indoors about 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost of the season, in a portable planting greenhouse available at any garden center for less than $5.00.

Eggplants grow best when the soil temperature is 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread about an inch to two inches of freshly cut grass clippings at the base of each eggplant to help keep a warmer temperature in the soil.

Eggplants require full sun, so make sure you plant them in your garden that receives the most sunlight. If you plant vegetables in pots, just make sure you place the pots where they will receive a full day's worth of sun.

Eggplants require a lot of water. It is best not to put eggplants near other vegetables that require little water as in your process of watering the eggplants heavy, you may overwater their neighbors. Beans, peas, peppers and potatoes work best as an eggplant's neighbor.

Finally as you improve your home vegetable gardening skills and understand the importance of your soil's pH level, make sure that it is in the 5 to 7 range and adjust accordingly.

Eggplant is a great vegetable to add to any home vegetable garden. If you like eating eggplant like I do, then get this vegetable into your garden immediately and find out for yourself just how easy it is to grow.