Eggplant: Pingtung Long
(Solanum melongena)

Eggplant is a popular solanaceous garden vegetable grown for its edible fruit. There are many varieties of this strong upright plant. Some produce fruits that are long and thin, some produce round fruits, and others large bell shaped fruit. The varieties range in color from white to purple to black. Eggplant is best when harvested young before the seeds begin to mature. It is cooked and eaten by itself or in savory dishes.

A long, slender oriental variety that is resistant to many diseases and a favorite at  ECHO. The fruit is purple with white stripes, 20 cm long, and 3.5 cm in diameter. 70 days to harvest. Normally consumed when immature. The fruit on the plant will fade to a brownish color when completely mature for seed.