Eggplant – Long Purple‏

Heirloom.
Prolific flavorful oriental type Italian heirloom that produces a prolific amount of long, slender, shiny, dark purple eggplants that taste wonderful. Fruits taste mild and delicate. Fruits are 2 1/2 diameter by 8-10 inches in length that have very few seeds and a thin skin making it easy to cook. This variety is mentioned as early as 1870. Produces greatly and is easy to grow. Wonderful eggplant is a culinary delight!
Sowing: Starting indoors is recommended, starting 8-12 weeks before planting out. Soak seeds overnight then sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in well drained soil. Keep soil moist during germination. When the plants are 4 to 6 inches tall, transplant into larger pots to produce healthy roots. Transplant outside about 2 weeks after all danger of frost when temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees F. in full sun and well drained soil.
Germination: 10-20 days Spacing: 18-24 inches apart. Space rows 24-36 inches apart. Days to maturity: 80 days Moisture: Keep soil moist, not soggy. Water well in dry times. Height: 24-30 inches Light: Full sun
Information: Harvest when the fruits are fully mature, by cutting fruit from the plant. Harvest at about 6 inches long whenb the fruit is shiny and before the skin turns dull. Continually harvest to encourage more fruits. Fruits are best used before 8-10 inches.Protect plants from wind and frost.
solanum melongena.