6 eggplant varieties: the one that looks like an egg

Updated on 21 September 2026Published on 9 September 2022

Round, long, pointy even. Black, white, purple and striped. Eggplant definitely knows how to surprise us! Discover 6 staple eggplant varieties that are easy to grow in the garden.

The six eggplant varieties at a glance

All six varieties want the same thing — rich, cool, deep, free-draining soil and sun — so the choice comes down to fruit shape, the room the plant needs and when you want to pick. Here is the shortlist side by side.

The six eggplant varieties at a glance
Variety	Fruit	Plant height	Harvest	Best used for
‘Blanche Ronde à Oeuf’	White, round, small and firm	30 cm (1 ft)	Midsummer to late autumn	Stuffed, sautéed, ratatouille
‘Violette longue 2’	Long, narrow, shiny purple skin	60 cm (2 ft)	Midsummer to late autumn	Cooked or in ratatouille
‘Ronde de Valence’	Fat, roundish, smooth violet skin	80 cm (32 in)	Early summer to early autumn	Stuffing, moussaka
‘Black Beauty’	Short, stocky, shiny black skin	30 cm (1 ft)	Midsummer to late autumn	Cooked, fried, grilled or sautéed
‘Listada de Gandia’	Oval, purple and white striped	40 cm (1½ ft)	Early summer to early autumn	Fried, baked, ratatouille
‘de Barbentane’	Elongated 25 cm, deep violet to black	40 cm (1½ ft)	Midsummer to late autumn	Sautéed, barbecued or stuffed

Pick the small round types for containers and short seasons, the long purple ones for volume and a generous harvest.

Solanum melongea ‘Blanche Ronde à Oeuf’ (organic)

Surprising shape of the blanche ronde a oeuf eggplant — White round fruits on a plant only 30cm tall

Appearance: surprising variety with white peel and round shape, plant grows a foot tall (30 cm) when mature.
Fruit flavor: small, firm fruits with a light flavor
Exposure: sun, part sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to mid-spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Midsummer to late autumn
Use: stuffed, sautéed and in ratatouille
Special feature: ideal solanum variety for growing in pots

Once the skin dulls towards cream or yellow the flesh turns spongy and the seeds harden, so cut the fruits before that point.

Solanum melongea ‘Violette longue 2’ (organic)

Violette longue 2 is a highly productive organic eggplant variety — Long shiny purple fruits from a very productive plant

Appearance: long, narrow fruits with a shiny purple skin. The plant grows 2 feet tall when mature (60 cm).
Flavor: tasty and juicy flesh
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to mid-spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Midsummer to late autumn
Use: ideal when cooked or in a ratatouille
Special feature: a highly productive variety that gourmets will find very appealing!

Cut each fruit with secateurs, leaving a short piece of stalk attached.

Space eggplants about 50 cm apart and mulch the base to conserve soil moisture between waterings, since steady moisture helps prevent the flower drop that often follows drought stress.

Solanum melongea ‘Ronde de Valence’

Ronde de Valence eggplant — Fat round violet fruits, perfect for stuffing or moussaka

Appearance: fat, roundish fruits with a smooth violet skin. Plants grow 32 inches tall (80cm) when mature.
Fruit flavor: fragrant with soft flesh
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to late spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Early summer to early autumn
Use: the perfect variety for stuffing or for moussaka
Special feature: an original appeal thanks to its round shape and violet-black color

Solanum melongea ‘Black Beauty’ (organic)

Black beauty eggplant produces huge, swollen black fruit — An ancient heirloom whose black fruits keep well

Appearance: short, stocky fruits, average size, with a shiny black skin. The plant grows 1 foot tall when mature (30 cm).
Fruit flavor: firm and fragrant flesh
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to mid-spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Midsummer to late autumn
Use: fruits can be cooked, fried, grilled or sauteed
Special feature: fruits of this very ancient heirloom variety keep for a long time

Solanum melongea ‘Listada de Gandia’

Striped and short variety, the listada de gandia eggplant — Purple and white stripes on an early, tender-fleshed variety

Appearance: oval fruits with purple and white striped peel, the plant grows 1½ feet tall (40 cm).
Fruit flavor: firm but tender flesh, excellent taste
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to late spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Early summer to early autumn
Use: fried in a pan, baked, in a ratatouille…
Special feature: an early variety, fruits should also be picked while still young for mouth-melting tenderness

Read also → Eggplant, caring for it well

Solanum melongea ‘de Barbentane’ (organic)

Long and violet de barbentane eggplant — Elongated 25cm fruits, deep violet and nearly black

Appearance: elongated 10-inch fruits (25 cm), deep violet, nearly black fruits. Plant averages 1½ feet tall when mature (40 cm).
Fruit flavor: tender and fragrant flesh
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, cool, deep and draining well
Sowing period: Late winter to mid-spring
Transplant to the ground: Mid-spring to early summer
Harvest: Midsummer to late autumn
Use: this eggplant can be sauteed in a pan, grilled on the barbecue or stuffed
Special feature: high productivity and long fruits will guarantee a great harvest

Frequently Asked Questions

When should eggplant be sown and planted out?

Sowing runs from late winter to mid-spring for most of these varieties, and late winter to late spring for ‘Ronde de Valence’ and ‘Listada de Gandia’. Young plants go into the ground from mid-spring to early summer, once conditions allow. Harvest then follows from early summer to early autumn or midsummer to late autumn depending on the variety.

Which eggplant variety ripens earliest?

‘Listada de Gandia’ is described as an early variety, and its harvest starts in early summer rather than midsummer. Its oval fruits are striped purple and white on a plant about 1½ feet tall (40 cm). Pick them while still young, when the flesh is firm but meltingly tender.

Which eggplant keeps best after picking?

‘Black Beauty’ is the keeper of the six: the fruits of this very ancient heirloom variety store for a long time. They are short and stocky with a shiny black skin, borne on a compact plant a foot tall (30 cm). The firm, fragrant flesh can be cooked, fried, grilled or sautéed.

Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois):
Pixabay: Andy M., Suanpa, Sendy Wulandhary, Ulrike Leone, rocknevis, neogenisis, ekrem

Written by Gaspard Lorthiois | Loves helping out, especially when it comes to growing things. Worked in herbal medicine, runs a farm, and dabbles in tech. Master's degree and engineer.

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