Asian Long Eggplant

Asian long eggplants are slender-fruited Solanum melongena cultivars. Smaller fruit can reach picking size earlier than globe types.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Even moisture; about 1 in/week including rain

Spacing

24 in

First harvest

55–80 days

Tips

• Stake plants to keep fruit off soil.
• Pick while skin is glossy and seeds soft.
• Use cultivar size rather than maximum length.
• Cut with a short stem instead of twisting.
• Start seed indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting and set plants 18-24 inches apart once nights stay above 55°F.
• Water deeply to provide about 1 inch weekly, increasing during heat or container growing.
• Stake plants early so fruit-laden branches do not break or rest on the ground.
• Protect young transplants from flea beetles with row cover, removing it as plants begin flowering.
• Cut fruit with pruners while the skin is glossy and flesh springs back after gentle pressure.