Aubergine Early Long Purple

Aubergine Early Long Purple: variety and characteristics

Aubergine Early Long Purple (Solanum melongena) is an annual vegetable of the Nightshade family (Solanaceae). This is a compact, upright perennial plant, usually grown as an annual vegetable crop.

Large, fluffy, grey-green leaves and pale purple flowers in summer, followed by slender, elongated, cylindrical, purple aubergines.

Ready for harvest approximately 75 days after germination.

Tasty, firm flesh with a mild flavour. Commonly used in stews, sauces, roasts, fried dishes, stuffed and grilled.

The aubergine is the most heat-loving of the “blue” garden crops – for kyopolou, moussaka, roasting and pickling. In a warm summer it gives an abundant harvest of glossy fruits.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 94%
• Seeds per packet: 191–259 pcs (0.9 g)
• Seed origin: China
• Sowing: April; seedlings
• Harvest: June – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Aubergine Early Long Purple

Aubergine Early Long Purple seeds are sown in April. The crop is harvested from June to September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Aubergine Early Long Purple

• Sowing method: seedlings
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 50–60 cm between plants, 70 cm between rows
• Germination: 10–20 days at 25–28 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow indoors within the four weeks after the last frost date. The optimum soil temperature is 24-32°C. The seeds should germinate after 7-12 days. Sow seeds 5 mm - 1 cm deep. Transplant once night temperatures are steady at 10°C or higher. The spacing between plants should be 45-60 cm. Low temperatures increase leaf growth but slow the development of the vegetables. Once most aubergines have set in summer, they are highly productive right up to the first frosts. Remove the flowers 2 to 4 weeks before the first expected frost, so that the plants concentrate on ripening all existing aubergines rather than producing new ones. Pick them at any time once they have reached half their size. Harvesting early keeps the aubergines from developing many seeds and will encourage more production from the plants. Do not pull the vegetable from the plant; cut it off with scissors or a knife, avoiding sharp growths at the end of the stem.

Plant in the warmest spot in the garden only once nights are consistently above 15 °C. Water generously and feed regularly; tall varieties need support.

Harvest and use

Pick while the skin is glossy – a dull skin means an overripe fruit with bitter seeds.

Frequently asked questions

When should Aubergine Early Long Purple be sown?

The recommended sowing month is April. Sowing method: seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 191–259 seeds, pack size 0.9 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 94%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

When are aubergines sown?

For seedlings – 8–10 weeks before planting out, usually February–March.

Why is aubergine bitter?

Bitterness comes from overripeness or water stress. Pick the fruits in time and water evenly.