Best Growing Conditions
If you’re undecided about which eggplant variety you should grow in your garden, consider the following conditions before choosing your eggplant seeds or seedlings:
- Garden area with full sun for six hours each day
- Temperature range of 70°F (21°C) to 85°F (29°C)
- Well drained soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8
- Enough space to plant seedlings 36 inches apart and rows 2 feet apart
Asian Variety Eggplants
Japanese and Chinese eggplants are long and slender with thin skin and a mild flavor. The following Asian eggplant varieties are favorites for good taste and texture.
Ichiban
This Japanese eggplant variety is the most popular. It takes from 58 to 70 days to reach maturity. The plant produces long, slender fruit, reaching up to 10 inches.
Slim Jim
This Asian variety takes about 70 days to mature. The young eggplants are lavender, and turn purple as they grow. The fruit’s full size is about 5 inches. This eggplant variety is a good choice for containers.
Traditional Oval Eggplants
Most people think of eggplants as large, oval fruits with a deep purple color. The following eggplant varieties produce this traditional shaped eggplant.
Black Beauty
Taking up to 85 days to mature, Black Beauty is the most popular eggplant variety for gardeners. The plant produces large, purple, oval fruit. The fruit yield is four to six per plant, and continues producing all season. This eggplant variety tastes sweet and tender for all types of recipes.
Rosa Bianca
This Italian eggplant variety takes from 70 to 90 days to reach maturity. It produces large, meaty fruit with lavender or ivory colored skin.
White Eggplants
Most white eggplant cultivars are smaller than purple eggplants. They can be bell-shaped or round with pure white or ivory-colored skin and cream flesh.
Easter Egg
This white eggplant takes up to 65 days to mature. It produces small, white oval fruit. Young fruit is pure white and yellows as it matures. For the best flavor, pick the fruit when it’s white.
Casper
This popular variety matures in 70 days. The fruit features ivory skin, and grows to about 6-inches long. It has a mild flavor that tastes similar to mushroom.
