Eggplants 2017

[ilex]

Originally Posted by gdaddybill

Went overboard on eggplants this year. Always grow the Louisiana Oval Green (LOG) eggplant and keeping it separate so that I can save pure seed but had to try some others including Mitoyo, Aswad, Little Green, Little Sailor, Masego. Meatball, Patio Baby, Dancer and Petch Siam. Anyone tried these varieties? Comments?

Bill

Mitoyo is a great variety, one of the best. Haven't tried the others, but I've grown over 50 varieties. 14 this year.

It's the only non-Spanish eggplant I'm growing this year.

[gdaddybill]

Here's a revised harvest shot. The Mitoyo does have a dark purple calyx, though when small it's not as distinctly purple. I also have two plants and the one included in this photo is from another garden. We still haven't done much comparison tasting though we have baked some slices of Dancer (peeled) and Little Sailor (most unpeeled and the skin was edible). Both were delicious coated with Italian bread crumbs, topped with parmesan (thanks for the recipe Craig). I added a little creole seasoning salt after baking for extra spice.
Top Row Aswad, Little Green and Petch Siam. Bottom Row Mitoyo, Little Sailor, Patio Baby, Masego, Meatball and Dancer.

[gorbelly]

Originally Posted by gdaddybill

Here's a revised harvest shot. The Mitoyo does have a dark purple calyx, though when small it's not as distinctly purple.

The stalks/stems and calyxes on Mitoyo were always dark purple-black for me at all points of development. At no point were they green. Aswad, OTOH, was a very bright green plant, including stalks and calyxes.

[peppero]

I have never grown small eggplant so my question is this: Does production make up for the small size?

Jon

[ilex]

Originally Posted by peppero

I have never grown small eggplant so my question is this: Does production make up for the small size?

Jon

Yes, many small fruit varieties are very productive. I like konasu from Japan

[gdaddybill]

I'm sure most of these varieties with the exception of Patio Baby could be allowed to grow larger. As it is we give a lot away and eat all we can. Our rule is "if the skin is glossy they're good". The smaller ones are quite productive, however. I'm anxious to try Masego. It looks like a baby Louisiana Oval Green eggplant.

[JRinPA]

I am growing Dancer for the first time this year; also, Epic for the first time. In addition I have Galine and Nadia from last year's leftover seed. After the storm tonight I took the AG19 off for good - they were really pushing it and there were some flowers last week already; some of those have browned but there will be more. I really like keeping the row cover on until they get nice and big. I had checked under there just twice since plantout, and found a single false colo. potato beetle and its eggs. No flea beetles. I may have watered once. Plants look great. Japanese beetle swarm will probably come tomorrow...