Solanum melongena. 70 to 85 days. Open-pollinated.
Long Purple, also known as Italian Long Purple, is a prolific heirloom eggplant variety that is quickly becoming the top choice for home gardeners in the U.S.
Fruits are long, slender, and deep purple in color, and grow to around 8 - 10 inches in length. Flesh is bright-white, tender, and mild with few seeds.
If you're after an even more tender, delectable treat, try harvesting the fruit when they're around 5 to 6 inches in length!
Plants grow to around 3 feet tall and yield about 1 to 3 pounds of fruit per plant. They do well even in cooler, northern regions.
Long Purple Eggplant
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones:
5 to 12
Light Requirement:
Full sun
Soil Type:
Fertile, well-drained
Sow Depth:
1/4 inch
Plant Spacing:
12 to 24 inches
Germination Temp:
80ºF
Germination Time:
21 days
Maturation:
85 days
Growing Tips
Start indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last expected spring frost by sowing seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed trays or small, individual pots. Keep soil moist and at a temperature around 80°F until germination, which may take up to 3 weeks.
