Eggplant

About

Eggplant isn’t a true vegetable, but actually classified as a berry. Contrary to what you might think if you have only bought eggplant at a grocery store, eggplant comes in a wide variety of colors and shapes. It originates from India and Sri Lanka where it is still very popular.

Growing Advice

Practice crop rotation with eggplant. Eggplants grow best in hot and humid climates, with temperatures above 70F. Be sure to pick eggplants if you want the plant to keep producing. It is best to cut your eggplants off the vine when they are ready to harvest, as pulling them off can damage the plant.

Companion Planting

Pests & Diseases

Tiny black flea beetles, aphids, spider mites and potato beetles can attack eggplant leaves.

Seed Saving

Eggplant will cross-pollinate with other varieties of eggplants if you want to save pure seeds. Allow your eggplant to go hard and overripe (seeds saved from an eggplant at the ready to eat stage will not be as successful for planting), remove from plant and wait two weeks before cutting the eggplant in half and scoop out the seeds. Place the seeds in a bowl full of water and use your fingers to seperate the seeds from the eggplant fibers attached to the seeds. Remove the non-seed materials and any floating seeds, as seeds that sink will have a higher germination rate. Rinse the seeds, then allow to dry on a rack or paper towels in a single layer.

Heirloom Varieties

  • Applegreen
  • Black Beauty
  • Blush Eggplant
  • Casper
  • Diamond
  • Early Black Egg
  • Early Long Purple
  • Florida High Bush
  • Goyo Kumba
  • Green Banana
  • Imperial Black Beauty
  • Japanese White Egg
  • Lao Green Stripe
  • Lao Purple Stripe
  • Listada de Gandia
  • Little Spooky
  • Long Purple
  • Louisiana Long Green
  • Pingtung Long
  • Purple Pickling
  • Red Ruffled
  • Rosa Bianca
  • Rosita
  • Round Mauve
  • Striped Toga
  • Sweet African Orange
  • Thai Long Green
  • Turkish Orange
  • Udumalapet
  • Ukrainian Beauty
  • Violetta di Firenze
  • White Egg

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