Long Purple - 1850's Heirloom

barkeater · March 30, 2007

According to the Harts seed co. packet, it dates back to the 1850's in America. Is anyone familiar with this variety? They are supposed to be 10" x 2" when mature.

johno · March 30, 2007

I am told it's a good seller here in north Arkansas by the seed shop lady... (I just started working for her this year.)

shelleybean · March 31, 2007

Check the blurb at Baker Creek too. I think theirs gives a similar date. I've heard conflicting reports about the flavor of this variety, but mostly that it's mild with good flavor. Try it and see!

barkeater · March 31, 2007

I'd thought I still had a couple seeds of Rosa Bianca, but I didn't. So I searched every seed rack for SOME kind of white eggplant, which I'd prefer, but to no avail. So this year its Dusky Hybrid and Long Purple.

shelleybean · March 31, 2007

Barkeater, I have seed for two white eggplant varieties if you'd like some. One is White Beauty, which is the traditional Italian shape, and Chinese Long Sword, the long skinny type. Let me know if you want me to send some. I have not tasted either one yet. I'm growing White Beauty this year.

barkeater · August 15, 2007

Michele, thanks for the offer you made, it was a little late to start seeds by the time I would have gotten them. How did White Beauty turn out for you?

Long Purple has been a total bust. I have 3 flowers and no fruit. Dusky just put out a couple fruit last week that are a couple inches long. So they will probably be it for this seasons harvest. It has been very cool, and we only had 2 weeks of summer - the last 2 weeks of July.

Summer officially ended today, the beginning of the county fair. Its been going on for 150 years, and the local lore is that the opening of the fair always coincides with the end of summer. A cold front came through last night, and the forecast through the weekend is mid-sixties for highs, mid-forties for lows. That's fall weather for sure.

**mdvpc** · August 16, 2007

Bark-I am in Phoenix and the hight today was 110 degree F!

montanamato · August 16, 2007

I wish summer would end...After the hottest July on record, we are still having daytimes highs in the mid 90's...At least the lows are in the 50's now...I think we were over 100 23 days or something crazy like that...
If you need eggplant seed for next year I have 2 nice short season varieties that I think will perform in almost any conditions...Italian White and Morden Midget....Even in bad years Ital. White is early and this year the eggplant and okra are loving the heat...

Jeanne

shelleybean · August 16, 2007

Barkeater, White Beauty ended up being my favorite eggplant this season. It's been hotter than the hinges of hell here all summer, and very dry. WB did great. Very productive with mild flavor. I think the skin on white eggplant is a little thicker than darker colored varieties but I peel my eggplant so that's no big deal to me.

barkeater · August 26, 2007

Thanks Jeanne, that's good to know about Italian White, as I like white eggplant much more than purple.

Still no fruit on Long Purple, but a flower is open. And my 2 Dusky's are growing quickly, about 4" long now, and has been joined by a third. So I should get a couple trays of eggplant parm this year after all.

Sorry to hear about the horrible heat. That is why I moved here from South Florida, I couldn't take the heat anymore.It hit 90 here yesterday before the nasty thunderstorms came, and it was miserable.

March 30, 2007	#1
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Long Purple - 1850's Heirloom According to the Harts seed co. packet, it dates back to the 1850's in America. Is anyone familiar with this variety? They are supposed to be 10" x 2" when mature.

March 31, 2007	#3
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Check the blurb at Baker Creek too. I think theirs gives a similar date. I've heard conflicting reports about the flavor of this variety, but mostly that it's mild with good flavor. Try it and see! __________________ Michele

March 31, 2007	#5
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Barkeater, I have seed for two white eggplant varieties if you'd like some. One is White Beauty, which is the traditional Italian shape, and Chinese Long Sword, the long skinny type. Let me know if you want me to send some. I have not tasted either one yet. I'm growing White Beauty this year. __________________ Michele

August 16, 2007	#7
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Bark-I am in Phoenix and the hight today was 110 degree F! __________________ Michael

August 16, 2007	#9
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Barkeater, White Beauty ended up being my favorite eggplant this season. It's been hotter than the hinges of hell here all summer, and very dry. WB did great. Very productive with mild flavor. I think the skin on white eggplant is a little thicker than darker colored varieties but I peel my eggplant so that's no big deal to me. __________________ Michele

March 30, 2007	#2
johno Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arkansas zone 6b Posts: 441	I am told it's a good seller here in north Arkansas by the seed shop lady... (I just started working for her this year.)

August 15, 2007	#6
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Michele, thanks for the offer you made, it was a little late to start seeds by the time I would have gotten them. How did White Beauty turn out for you? Long Purple has been a total bust. I have 3 flowers and no fruit. Dusky just put out a couple fruit last week that are a couple inches long. So they will probably be it for this seasons harvest. It has been very cool, and we only had 2 weeks of summer - the last 2 weeks of July. Summer officially ended today, the beginning of the county fair. Its been going on for 150 years, and the local lore is that the opening of the fair always coincides with the end of summer. A cold front came through last night, and the forecast through the weekend is mid-sixties for highs, mid-forties for lows. That's fall weather for sure.

August 16, 2007	#8
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	I wish summer would end...After the hottest July on record, we are still having daytimes highs in the mid 90's...At least the lows are in the 50's now...I think we were over 100 23 days or something crazy like that... If you need eggplant seed for next year I have 2 nice short season varieties that I think will perform in almost any conditions...Italian White and Morden Midget....Even in bad years Ital. White is early and this year the eggplant and okra are loving the heat... Jeanne

August 26, 2007	#10
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Thanks Jeanne, that's good to know about Italian White, as I like white eggplant much more than purple. Still no fruit on Long Purple, but a flower is open. And my 2 Dusky's are growing quickly, about 4" long now, and has been joined by a third. So I should get a couple trays of eggplant parm this year after all. Sorry to hear about the horrible heat. That is why I moved here from South Florida, I couldn't take the heat anymore.It hit 90 here yesterday before the nasty thunderstorms came, and it was miserable.