Eggplant at a Glance
Grow an array of eggplant varieties to add splashes of exotic shapes and colors to your summer garden.
December 2012/January 2013
By Barbara Pleasant
This chart contains a mix of open-pollinated (OP) and hybrid (F1) eggplant varieties (Solanum melongena) recommended for organic gardens. Learn more about organic eggplant cultivation in All About Growing Eggplant.
| Type | Description | Varieties |
| Oval to oblong eggplant | Tall, productive plants that grow best where summers are long | ‘Black King’ (F1), 79 days ‘Rosa Bianca’ (OP), 80 days ‘Diamond’ (OP), 70 days ‘Rosita’ (OP), 84 days ‘Nadia’ (F1), 67 days |
| Japanese eggplant | Elongated fruits are curved or straight, usually with purple to | ‘Millionaire’ (F1), 54 days ‘Swallow’ (F1), 51 days ‘Orient Express’ (F1), 58 days ‘Pingtung Long’ (OP), 70 days |
| Small-fruited eggplant | Fast-growing and less lanky than other varieties, these are great | ‘Applegreen’ (OP), 65 days ‘Little Finger’ (OP), 60 days ‘Beatrice’ (F1), 62 days ‘Purple Fingerling’ (OP), 68 days ‘Calliope’ (F1), 64 days |
| Novelty eggplant | You can always find new adventures by growing eggplant varieties | ‘Casper’ (OP), 70 days ‘Kermit’ (F1), 60 days ‘Louisiana Long Green’ (OP), 75 days ‘Turkish Orange’ (OP), 75 days |
| Locate sources for these eggplant varieties with our custom Seed and Plant Finder. | ||
Contributing editor Barbara Pleasant gardens in southwest Virginia, where she grows vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and a few lucky chickens. Contact Barbara by visiting her website or finding her on Google+.
