| Common Name | Pumpkin-on-a-Stick, Ornamental Eggplant, Mock Pumpkin |
| Genus | Solanum |
| Species | Solanum integrifolium |
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Life Cycle | Annual / Tender Perennial in warm or tropical climates |
| Format | 285-cell plug trays |
| Plug Care | Harden off and bump up or plant out plugs promptly upon arrival. Maintain evenly moist growing medium while the plugs remain in their trays, and also after transplant - avoid keeping the substrate overly-saturated but also avoid drought conditions. Any stress on the plugs at this young and tender stage will negatively affect the plant's potential down the road. |
| Netting / Staking | When these plants are loaded with fruit late in the season they are very top-heavy and will easily lodge or topple in wind and rain. Each plant should get it's own stake, or alternatively you can use netting or the Florida-weave method of trellising. Plastic netting may make harvesting more difficult. |
| Temperature Range | This is a warm season crop (It's an eggplant after all) - plant early summer when the soil has warmed - it can't handle cold of any type. In zones 10 and warmer it will act as a perennial. |
| Spacing | Space plants at minimum 24 inches apart to allow for full branching and fruit development. These plants are quite large at maturity, especially when irrigated and fed appropriately. |
| Soil Preference | Pumpkin-on-a-Stick prefers fertile, loamy, well-drained soils with good organic matter. Fertilize regularly with a balanced fertilizer early in the season, and with a fertilizer lower in nitrogen later in the season. What you would feed your tomatoes is also appropriate for these plants. |
| Day Length | These are long-day plants, flowering at the peak of summer after a few months of growing vegetatively. The taller you can grow the plants, the better your stems will be. Plant in full sun. |
| Pinching | Pinching is not necessary, these plants will naturally branch. |
| When to Plant | Plant late spring or early summer, when the soil and air temperatures have warmed. They are a great candidate for growing under plastic as they like it HOT. |
| Harvesting | Harvest late in the season for for fall arrangements. By the end of summer, early fall, the fruit will have matured to a beautiful orange and the stems will be woody. Carefully cut stems at the base of the plant, remove the foliage and enjoy the orange pumpkin-shaped fruit. Be careful of the thorns! |
| Post Harvest Care | Keep cut stems in water, and store in the cooler for the longest vase life. Eventually the fruit will go mushy (they're eggplants after all!) You can attempt to dry the branches by hanging them upside down - the fruit will go a little wrinkly but they should retain some of their color and it certainly makes them last longer. |
| Diseases / Insects | Watch for pests common to Solanaceae (aka tomatoes, peppers and eggplants): aphids, spider mites, possibly hornworms, whiteflies. Fungal issues may occur in humid, poorly ventilated conditions - maintain good airflow and avoid wetting the foliage when overhead watering. |
| Bailey's Notes | There isn't anything else quite like this out there - it's in the same realm as gomphocarpus 'hairy balls' - talk about a conversation starter! Just one or two stems in an arrangement will draw people in of all ages. Very fun and quirky for fall arrangements. |
| Resources | NA |