General information and discussion about cultivating eggplants/aubergines.
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#61 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
|
![]()
I can never get my baba ganoush to not come out slimy. I wonder if I would like it better with an heirloom eggplant variety.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#62 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
![]()
Tried Rosa Bianca a couple of years ago. Had poor production with "interesting" shaped fruit -- mostly "double lobed" and smallish. Also tried a similar hybrid, Beatrice, from Johnny's with somewhat better results, but not "a keeper" for me.
Diamond? Never heard of it. I'll look into that. I've seen Casper advertised for several years, but never tried. it. Thanks for the suggestions. -GG |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#63 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a)
Posts: 2,278
|
![]()
My aubergines are used to be eaten by local hungry Colorado beetles. It seems to me they like aubergines much more that potatoes ;-)
Best and most prolific aubergine varieties I grow: Almaz (translated as "Diamond" in English) - 60-75 days, a compact and standard variety here. Ukrainian/USSR CV. Little Fingers - 70 days, I like multi-clusters. Patsekha ("Fun" in English) - 55-70 days,earlier than Black Beauty, Belarusian CV. Lebedinyi ("Swan" in English) - 55-70 days, white skin, bitter-free, Russian CV. Kashalot (=Cachalot in English) - 50-60 days, the most vigorous and prolific Russian aubergine. See it on the picture below: ![]() I have trialed many aubergine varieties, but don't think it is a good idea to grow them in Zone 4a even in greenhouse. Beetles, low production and luck of space say it all.
__________________
1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR Last edited by Andrey_BY; May 11, 2014 at 11:17 AM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#64 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 313
|
![]()
Andrey, does Lebedinyi have the same elongated fruit as Casper? And does it have thorns? I am wondering how closely they might be related.
Kashalot looks interesting. I'm assuming that the crop in the photo is being grown for seed? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#65 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Minsk, Belarus, Eastern Europe (Zone 4a)
Posts: 2,278
|
![]()
Zeedman,
I don't trial Casper so I can't compare them. Lebedinyi ("Swan"): 110-120 days from germination, h 60-80 cm, white elongated 200-250 g bombs, mushroom flavor, bitter-free, no thorns, good keeper, Russian CV. This is it: ![]() Kashalot photo was from Russian seed vendor.
__________________
1 kg=2.2 lb , 1 m=39,37 in , 1 oz=28.35 g , 1 ft=30.48 cm , 1 lb= 0,4536 kg , 1 in=2.54 cm , 1 l = 0.26 gallon , 0 C=32 F Andrey a.k.a. TOMATODOR Last edited by Andrey_BY; May 12, 2014 at 02:41 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#66 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Israel
Posts: 57
|
![]()
I never had much success with eggplants either.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#67 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Toronto
Posts: 413
|
![]()
I had pretty much the same results as Durgan, with 7 or 8 of the large solid purple pear shaped per plant, and 2 or 3 of the large roundish pink and white striped variety, with pretty much no care other than staking and occasional watering/splash of fertilizer.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#68 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
|
![]()
You guys are all lucky. Last year I got my first eggplants ever. But this year? All my white eggplants are already dead. I have 1 Japanese eggplant hanging on by a thread and probably won't make it. And my black beauty's are looking VERY sad indeed. Not looking good for a repeat at all.
__________________
Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#69 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Coast, Canada
Posts: 961
|
![]()
was checking out the seedling offers in a local big box yesterday and came across a nice healthy eggplant start - had no idea what Gretel F1 was like but it seems to get really good write ups from various sources - will keep you posted on how it does up here in PNW ...........
http://parkseed.com/gretel-hybrid-eg...p/05225-PK-P1/
__________________
D. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#70 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
|
![]() Quote:
I also did a lacto-ferment pickle that turned out delicious. Actually, one of my favorite pickles, ever! |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#71 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
|
![]() Quote:
You might try an eggplant fermented pickle. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#72 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central Virginia
Posts: 243
|
![]()
Steaming and freezing eggplants sounds interesting, need to give that a try. (I'm used to cubing + roasting them in the oven + then freezing.)
Another great use for eggplants is to use the puree like tomato paste! Since eggplants are thick and dense, all you have to do is to cook them and puree them and you've got a thick paste... then if you combine that eggplant puree with some cooked tomatoes, you've got a great tomato sauce, and you don't notice the eggplants at all. ... Didn't see anyone mentioning it in this thread or in some of the other recent eggplant threads -- anyone ever have trouble with eggplants not setting fruit when it's too hot? July 2012 was super hot here in Virginia, we had problems with a LOT of stuff not being able to pollinate because it was so hot -- snap beans, lima beans, squash, etc.... and it was the first time we'd ever noticed eggplants having trouble, we pretty much had no eggplants setting fruit in July, they waited til cooler temperatures in August to start setting fruits. So in 2013 we tried a few varieties with good reputations for setting fruits in hot weather -- Florida Bush and Florida Market -- and of course 2013 ended up being the coldest summer here in 30 years, so that year's trial wasn't any use. We're trying again this year, and along with Florida Bush and Florida Market, we're also looking at a Hawaiian variety, Nitta, so if it ends up being another hot summer, maybe this year we'll have some useful results! |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#73 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Abingdon, Va
Posts: 184
|
![]()
I almost gave up too.
It was the flea beetle that turned the young leaves into a pall of lace that nearly drove me to eggplant despair. But this year I set out healthier, larger, plants than I've ever had and that has been part of the solution. I'm growing Black Beauty and Wiamanola(long skinny black one), I had a little success with the Wiamanola last year in a container. This year I waited until the weather the days and night s were warm( May 29) I put black plastic down as this also helps deter the FB, and put them under light row cover. I've had next to zero FB though I have had a few small grasshoppers, but so far, their damage seems survivable. I've also set planted a couple in 5gal Sub-Irrigated Planters (SIP buckets) these seem to be growing faster. They aren't covered but are sitting on a pallet somewhat away from the garden in a grassy area. I like the asphalt idea. Last year I almost had success with Diamond, but didn't have any seeds leftover. A variety that I wanted to try this year was Ratna -a round, black variety from India. I bought 17 lbs last year at our FM, roasted, peeled and froze them. I couldn't find seeds this year though. The farmer told me they were very productive. Next year I want to trial several different varieties. Y'all have given me several good ideas. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#74 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: central Virginia
Posts: 243
|
![]()
Well, so far 2014's summer hasn't been as *cold* as 2013's was, but it's definitely been mild -- so once again our trials for heat-resistant eggplants haven't been useful...
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#75 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 3,891
|
![]()
Last year I had good success with Swallowtail F1 eggplant.
This year I'm growing Swallowtail again and three Black Beauty. The flea beetles were fierce, but my little seedlings survived and are flowering and fruiting, but two of the Swallowtails have been stricken with what looks like Verticillium Wilt ![]() I'm not sure what to do, so have been removing the dead leaves and hoping that they will recover. I just hope it doesn't spread to my tomatoes! Linda |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|