Give eggplant about an inch of water a week and, once the plants are established and the ground is warm, mulch to retain moisture and deter weeds. Pinch back new blossoms about three weeks before the first expected frost. This will channel the plants' energy into maturing existing fruits rather than producing new ones that won't survive the frost. Start picking eggplants as soon as they're big enough to use, and keep picking them till the fruits lose their gloss. If they're brown and hard, you've waited too long.
All eggplants thrive in containers, but varieties with smaller fruits look more in proportion.
One good choice is 'Baby Bell', also called 'Bambino'. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family, all of which contain toxic alkaloids. While all the fruits of the family are perfectly safe, don't eat any other part of the plant. Inc. How things get done. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .