Casper Eggplant – MIg

Description

Casper Eggplant is a distinctive heirloom variety prized for its smooth, ivory-white fruits, tender skin, and mild, delicate flavor. The slender, elongated eggplants have creamy flesh with few seeds and are excellent for grilling, roasting, sautéing, frying, curries, stews, and Mediterranean dishes. This productive warm-season variety performs well in the UAE when started indoors during the summer and transplanted outdoors as temperatures begin to moderate.

When to Plant in the UAE

• Indoors: Start seeds in July.
• Outdoors: Transplant seedlings in October.

Planting & Care Tips

• Light & Soil: Grow in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with compost and organic matter.
• Depth & Germination: Sow seeds 0.5–1 cm deep. Germination typically occurs within 7–14 days.
• Spacing: Space plants 45–60 cm apart, with 60–75 cm between rows.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruit development. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
• Feeding: Add compost before planting and feed with a balanced vegetable fertilizer every 3–4 weeks during active growth. Increase potassium during flowering and fruiting to support healthy fruit development.
• Support: Provide light staking if needed, particularly when plants become heavily loaded with fruit.
• Harvest: Fruits are typically ready approximately 60–80 days after transplanting. Harvest when the fruits are smooth, firm, and still ivory-white.
• Harvesting Tips: Pick fruits while young and tender, before the skin becomes dull and the seeds become more noticeable. Cut the fruit from the plant with clean pruners, leaving a short stem attached.