Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Long Purple Eggplant is a delicious and unique vegetable that is growing in popularity among vegan and vegetarian home chefs and gardeners. This heirloom eggplant variety produces very slender, waxy dark purple club-shaped fruits with thick skin. The flavor is specific and savory with a slight bitterness. Try roasting, grilling, or sautéing Long Purple Eggplant and eating with a bowl of Asian-style noodles, topped with sliced Tokyo Bunching Onions.
NAME: Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
VARIETY: Long Purple
DAYS TO MATURITY: 70 – 80 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 5 – 12
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Fertile soil with a pH between 5.7 – 6.5
PLANT HEIGHT: 24 – 32 inches
SPACING: 12 – 24 inches apart
TEMP: 50 – 85°F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed starting soil mix, either in cell trays or small pots.
Keep the soil moist and at 70°F and seedlings will emerge in 8 to 12 days.
As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3 inches beneath fluorescent/LED plant grow lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours, raising the lights as the plants grow.
If you are growing in small cells, you may need to transplant the seedlings to 4-inch pots when seedlings have at least 2 pairs of leaves before hardening off.
Harden off seedlings for several days. Do this by taking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night (Outside temps should be above 50°F when you start this process).
After hardening off, transplant into your pre-prepared bed 14 to 24 inches apart, in rows spaced 2 feet apart
While it’s possible to directly sow Long Purple Eggplant seeds outdoors in far southern climates with warm temperatures, it is recommended to start seeds indoors in most regions.
In far southern climates, wait until the soil temperature reaches at least 70°F (21°C) and all danger of frost has passed before sowing seeds directly into well-draining soil.
Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil.
Plant the seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep in rows spaced 18-24 inches apart.
Keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds germinate, which typically takes 7-14 days.
Thin the seedlings to one plant every 18-24 inches once they have grown a few inches tall.
Prepare your bed by selecting a location in full sun with rich & moist organic soil, removing weeds, adding compost and then covering the bed with mulch or tarp a week before you plan to transplant; this will heat the soil beneath and provide a better growing condition for the plants.
Before planting into the soil make sure the soil & ambient temperatures will not drop below 50°F during the day or night.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells; plants need about 1 to 2 inches of rain per week during the growing season.
Stake or cage the plants to support heavy fruit and prevent them from bending or breaking.
Long Purple Eggplant can be grown as a tender perennial in hot subtropical climates, but it is generally grown as an annual in cooler climates.
Long Purple Eggplants are typically ready for harvest 60-80 days after transplanting or 75-90 days after sowing seeds outdoors.
Use sharp garden shears or a knife to cut the eggplants from the plant, leaving a short stem attached.
Harvest the fruits regularly to encourage continued production throughout the growing season.
Store harvested eggplants in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator for up to one week.
