Mitoyo fruits not growing bigger..?

peebee · July 21, 2019

This is the first time I've grown Mitoyos from seed, based on positive reviews here. Well, the plants were impressively lush with large leaves and sturdy stems. However the fruits are just not growing any bigger than they were over a month ago. They are still small but I decided to eat one and it was so bitter and hard I realized it wasn't ripe yet. I planted these out in late March. Could spider mites be the problem? There is no huge infestation, just a little but enough to affect the leaves. I've been spraying the new growth with water daily and also wiping them manually so its not bad now.

The other Japanese eggplants growing right next to them (all eggplants in Earthboxes by the way) were purchased as seedlings way later and are also slightly affected by mites but they are producing bonkers. I believe they are Millionaires.

If the Mitoyos don't grow bigger or ripen I don't know if I'll bother growing them next year. Is it normal for this variety to take so long to ripen? They are also not as productive as the ones I am used to, the elongated Japanese varieties. I have grown Kamo and they were more productive than the Mitoyos with similar shaped fruits.

July 21, 2019	#1
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Mitoyo fruits not growing bigger..? This is the first time I've grown Mitoyos from seed, based on positive reviews here. Well, the plants were impressively lush with large leaves and sturdy stems. However the fruits are just not growing any bigger than they were over a month ago. They are still small but I decided to eat one and it was so bitter and hard I realized it wasn't ripe yet. I planted these out in late March. Could spider mites be the problem? There is no huge infestation, just a little but enough to affect the leaves. I've been spraying the new growth with water daily and also wiping them manually so its not bad now. The other Japanese eggplants growing right next to them (all eggplants in Earthboxes by the way) were purchased as seedlings way later and are also slightly affected by mites but they are producing bonkers. I believe they are Millionaires. If the Mitoyos don't grow bigger or ripen I don't know if I'll bother growing them next year. Is it normal for this variety to take so long to ripen? They are also not as productive as the ones I am used to, the elongated Japanese varieties. I have grown Kamo and they were more productive than the Mitoyos with similar shaped fruits.