Black Beauty Eggplant
(Solanum melongena)
Start these in small individual pots and water regularly to give them a head start in the dry season. Seeds require warmth to germinate. Transplant them deeply as soon as summer rains start. If planted in well amended soil, and watering with some worm tea from time to time, these things really produce.
Eggplants weigh 1-3 pounds and become glossy and deep purple when mature. Flowers are purple/white with orange stamen.
These mature in about 70 days after transplanting into the garden. Well cared for eggplants can grow as perennials here in SW Florida if protected from frost. Eggplant can be pruned when production lessens. Started at the end of December/beginning of January and plant in March.
Eggplant can be roasted, dried, baked, and fried. Our favorite recipe is to coat thinly sliced eggplant lightly with olive oil and salt and roast them in the oven until they are slightly browned.
