Long Purple Eggplant – MIg

Description

Long Purple Eggplant is a classic heirloom variety prized for its long, slender, glossy deep purple fruits and tender, creamy flesh. The fruits typically grow 20–30 cm long and have a mild, slightly sweet flavor with very few seeds. This vigorous, high-yielding variety is ideal for grilling, roasting, stir-fries, curries, stuffing, and Mediterranean and Asian dishes. It thrives in warm weather and performs exceptionally well in the UAE.

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: Plant in full sun in fertile, well-draining soil enriched with compost.
• Depth & Germination: Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep. Germination typically occurs within 7–14 days in warm soil.
• Spacing: Space plants 45–60 cm apart, with 60–90 cm between rows.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and fruit development, but avoid waterlogged conditions.
• Feeding: Apply compost before planting and feed with a balanced fertilizer every 3–4 weeks. Increase potassium once flowering begins to encourage abundant fruit production.
• Harvest: Fruits are ready to harvest in approximately 70–85 days, when they are glossy, firm, and have reached their full size.
• Harvesting Tips: Harvest fruits regularly using clean pruners, leaving a short section of stem attached to encourage continuous production.