Home Gardening The Vegetable Patch 6 superb eggplant varieties, from egg-like to stunning black beauty

6 superb eggplant varieties, from egg-like to stunning black beauty

Different eggplant varieties in a crate

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.

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Solanum melongea ‘Blanche Ronde Ă  Oeuf’ (organic)

  • Surprising shape of the blanche ronde a oeuf eggplantAppearance: 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: February to April
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: July to November
  • Use: stuffed, sautĂ©ed and in ratatouille
  • Special feature: ideal solanum variety for growing in pots

Solanum melongea ‘Violette longue 2’ (organic)

  • Violette longue 2 is a highly productive organic eggplant varietyAppearance: 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: February to April
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: July to November
  • Use: ideal when cooked or in a ratatouille
  • Special feature: a highly productive variety that gourmets will find very appealing!

Solanum melongea ‘Ronde de Valence’

  • Ronde de Valence eggplantAppearance: 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: February to May
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: June to September
  • 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 fruitAppearance: 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: February to April
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: July to November
  • 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 eggplantAppearance: 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: February to May
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: June to September
  • 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 eggplantAppearance: 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: February to April
  • Transplant to the ground: mid-April to June
  • Harvest: July to November
  • 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
Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois):
Pixabay: Andy M., Suanpa, Sendy Wulandhary, Ulrike Leone, rocknevis, neogenisis, ekrem