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Vegetables--Warm

Bean, Green
Cucumber
Eggplant
Pepper, Hot
Pepper, Sweet
Squash, Summer
Squash, Winter
Tomato

Name: Eggplant (Solanum melongena) Variety: (See Below) Family: Solanaceae
Nutrient Richness (of 65): 15 Calories/Cup: 28 Origin: SE Asia
Vitamins (highest in) : Fiber, Potassium, Manganese, Copper
Zones: 1-24, H1, H2 Exposure: Full Sun

Water: Regular

Type: Annual Persistence: Tender
Height: to 4 ft Spread: to 4 ft Growth Rate: Fast
Start Seeds: Indoors 8-10 weeks prior to transplant (Feb 4) Transplants: April-May (April 15) Begin Harvest: July

Features:

  • Produces till frost
  • Prolific producer and beautiful plant
  • Beautiful lavender flowers

Varieties:

  • 'Little Fingers'
    • Proven producer
    • Elongated glossy purple fruit to 6 inches in clusters
    • Heavy producing 4 ft plant benifits from staking
  • 'Gretel'
    • 2009 AAS winner
    • Clusters of slender glossy white fruit 3 to 6 in long
    • Earliest white eggplant, non-bitter, tender skin, few seeds
    • Compact plant to 36 in high by 36 in wide
  • 'Hansel'
    • 2008 AAS winner
    • Clusters of slender glossy purple fruit 3 to 10 in long
    • Early tender sweet fruit with few seeds
    • Compact plant to 36 in high by 30 in wide

Considerations:

  • Fertilize if production slows
  • Plants can be permanently stunted if placed outdoors too soon. Wait for warm weather or protect with hotcaps.

Kitchen Use:

  • Cooked to mush with a little soy sauce and used to thicken salad dressing