📌 Quick Summary: How Tall Does the Bibo Eggplant Grow?
- 🍆 Standard Height: The ‘Bibo’ white eggplant is generally a compact plant. Grown on its own roots outdoors, it typically reaches about 2 to 2.5 feet (60-75 cm) tall.
- ⛺ In the Greenhouse: Like most eggplants, Bibo will stretch noticeably taller inside a greenhouse or under a high tunnel, easily reaching 3 to 3.5 feet (100 cm).
- 🧬 The Rootstock Factor: If you experiment with grafting Bibo onto a vigorous tomato rootstock, expect the plant to explode in size—easily hitting 4 to 5 feet (120-150 cm) tall with a massive increase in fruit yield, though the first harvest might be slightly delayed.
Luda, how tall does the Bibo eggplant usually get? I always considered it a bit of an underperformer, but I really wanted a white eggplant this year.
Well, I grafted it onto a tomato rootstock and… 👀 it is over a meter (3.3 ft) tall! And the fruit yield is many times higher than its neighbor growing right next to it on its own roots.
Tatunya wrote:
Luda, how tall does the Bibo eggplant usually get?
Tanyush, I just went out and took a photo for you. I have two Bibo plants, not grafted, growing outside right by the greenhouse door. They are about a meter (3 ft) tall, I’ve already done two harvests, and the fruit size is standard for an eggplant.
Russi wrote:
…growing outside right by the greenhouse door.
They always grow taller in or near a greenhouse. I have two of the exact same variety standing next to each other. One grafted, one not. Since they are side by side, they get the exact same care. And they are completely different. I definitely see the difference.
Anna, I actually just went outside to measure mine with a tape measure..)))
Tatunya wrote:
Luda, how tall does the Bibo eggplant usually get?
Tanya, I haven’t grown Bibo inside the greenhouse. Outdoors in open ground, it got to about 60cm (2 ft) tall for me. I don’t have any white ones this year, but all my regular greenhouse eggplants and peppers are pushing a meter (3+ ft) tall this season.
Aleksan9ra wrote:
Outdoors in open ground, it got to about 60cm (2 ft) tall for me.
My eggplants are mostly growing in an outdoor bed under a high plastic tunnel (the arch is 7.5 ft / 2.3m high).
Here are my measurements: Bibo on its own roots is 70cm (2.3 ft). Bibo grafted onto tomato roots is 120cm (4 ft). And the fruit count isn’t even comparable. I already harvested the first flush, and the non-grafted plant is currently empty, just waiting for new flowers. But the grafted one still has fruit hanging on it.
I also have two Fabina eggplants inside the greenhouse. The grafted bush is 150cm (5 ft), the non-grafted is 110cm (3.6 ft), and again, a huge difference in yield.
Anna, I noticed the difference might be fertilizer. I don’t use chicken manure, I just feed with what I have, mostly mineral fertilizers. And my soil is heavy loam.
This is the first year I’ve ever been truly happy with my eggplant crop! I’m even thinking about reducing the number of plants I grow next year. BUT, the plants on their own roots gave me my very first ripe fruits slightly earlier, and we are always eager for that first harvest. So my conclusion for my specific climate is this: 2/3 of the patch should be grafted, and 1/3 left alone for early eating.
Aleksan9ra wrote:
…all my regular greenhouse eggplants and peppers are pushing a meter (3+ ft) tall this season.
My non-grafted Bibo eggplants are also well over a meter tall already. Mirval and Sharapova are doing great too. Honestly, all varieties are doing amazing this year, just loads of fruit (knock on wood). I’ve already gifted a bunch of eggplants to two of my neighbors, and the fruits just keep coming. I guess I’ll have to start canning them soon!
By the way girls, one of those little melons that fell off the vine early has turned almost completely yellow! The other two are just sitting there not changing color yet… I’m waiting!
