Eggplant Turkish Orange- MIg

Description

Turkish Orange Eggplant is a beautiful heirloom variety prized for its small, round fruits that mature from green to a striking bright orange. The fruits have tender skin, creamy flesh, and a rich, slightly sweet flavor that becomes more pronounced as they mature. They are excellent for roasting, grilling, sautéing, frying, stuffing, curries, stews, and Mediterranean dishes. This productive warm-season variety performs well in the UAE when grown during the milder months.

When to Plant in the UAE

• Indoors: Start seeds indoors in July.
• Outdoors: Transplant seedlings or direct sow from October through March, when temperatures are warm.

Planting & Care Tips

• Light & Soil: Grow in full sun in fertile, loose, 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 fruit development.
• Support: Provide light staking if needed, particularly when plants are carrying many fruits.
• Harvest: Fruits are typically ready approximately 60–80 days after transplanting. Harvest when fruits are firm, bright orange, and still relatively young for the best texture.
• Harvesting Tips: Pick fruits regularly before they become overly mature and seedy. Cut the fruit from the plant with clean pruners, leaving a short stem attached.