I had no idea ??!!!

[Tomstrees]

Hope everyone is well ~
I had no idea how cool lookin eggplant blossoms are ???!!

~ Tom

Millionaire:

[Grub]

I agree...

HEY! Check out the pollinator in your first pic... what is he or her?

My flowers were crawling with critters last year.

Report back on the frutiset. K? Eggplants are popular in Greece as well, right?

[Tomstrees]

Grub,

Good to hear from you!
I noticed after I posted that pic that little bug in there doin my work for me! lol ~

I've never grown a single eggplant and this one (Millionaire/Hybrid) is from my Italian neighbor across the street. Said he had an extra plant and wanted to "complete" my garden. He also sent me what he calls "African Hot" pepper plant which he received in trade in the 70's. I'll have to get with you about that.

Yup, being Greek/Italian I've eaten my "share" of eggplant at family functions and especially when we were visiting Greece, but "I" don't really use it in my cooking.

After such cool blossoms, and hopefully good tasting fruit, we may get hooked. I've seen lots of cool varieties you, Craig, and others have got growin.

We shall see !

BTW, what are your favorites ? And have any pics ?

Hope all is well,

Tom

[nctomatoman]

If you grow enough eggplant, you realize a few things - the flowers are really attractive and each variety has its own particular shade of purple, lilac or lavendar (and I have a few that have white flowers as well); that they thrive and yield like gangbusters in pots, that they are actually easier to grow (lower maintenance) than tomatoes, as long as you keep the flea beetles under control early on - and that they are very versatile to cook with. We are loving them - 5 plants going full throttle are more than enough, and they will be joined by 2 more within the week. (last year's 15 or so plants was overwhelming, though our friends were loving it!).

[Tomstrees]

Yeah Craig - they really are a nice looking plant with cool blossoms. I think mine had like little thorns on the outside of the flower.

This is my first time with one, and I can tell that not flea-beetles but aphids were my problem with it early on. With the addition of a few lady bugs (they love my yard) placed on the plant I was able to stop them without using anything.

What are a few of your fav. varieties ?

~ Tom

[nctomatoman]

Slender fruit - we love Machiaw (JSS hybrid), Bride (hybrid, widely available), Ping Tung Long (OP).
Oval to round fruit - Lavendar Touch, Green Giant, Zebra, Purple Rain, New York Improved, Listada di Gandia, Neon, Cloud 9

The only eggplant we tend to avoid are the green to orange, round, Turkish types, and the small, round green Kermit (I am sure they are fine, but we don't find the small round shape all that useful to our cooking exploits).

[Grub]

Tom,

The Almagro one was different, tear-drop shaped and cross between a meaty one and a fruity, more crunchy one... very nice and sweet and I am going to try and save seeds with one that's out there and share them around and I liked it alot. Different

Ping Tung Long were great, long, prolific, easy eating, great grilled and marinated and strewn across a roll with deli meat and cheese... mmm.

Listada da Gandia isn't ht emost prolific, but it makes up for it with big fruits with the beautiful lavender stripes or are they white stripes on lavender background. Anyway, great slicer and baker or griller or bbq eggplant with sweet meat flavour. Not at al bitter.

Rosa Bianca was much the same as Listada but round and maybe a little more prolififc for me. Very good and sweet and pretty.

Thai Yellow Egg were actually a white round asian one that were, surprisingly, still sweet when halved and grilled, however, these seedy asian ones are better simmered in a coconut-based curry.

Round Mauve was a very good prolific dark one about the size of a baseball. Stronger flavour.

Waimanelo Long was a snake-like thing up to a foot or almost that. Entertaining and sweet, much like Pink Long Tung, but a little less flesh and thicker skin. Compact plant. Hardy. Will grow again.

Gonna try a few others this year... but if I cold grow only one thus far it would be Pink Tung Long for its productivity, usefulness in all but layered bakes, nice flavour and compactness.

[potawie]

I'm growing an Italian Pink Bicolor this year and I am very impressed with the flower. I don't eat too much eggplant but I must grow at least one plant every year because they are so darn cool looking.

[montanamato]

I like Ping tung Long also...Others which I like are Italian White and Thai Long Green (elephant tusk). Thai Long green is spectacular in a container...

Jeanne

[Tomstrees]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions!

After looking at that bloom last night, we notcied we have our
first ever baby eggplant ! I'll post pics tonight as its sooo cool ~

Tom

[Tomstrees]

Millionaire:

[Fert1]

Oooh, that looks like my Ping Tung. Is that the variety?

[Tomstrees]

Holly,

Its actually "Millionaire" ... can I see a pic of yours ?

~ Tom

ps. like 15+ buds are almost open on it now ... Its our first eggy ever !

[Fert1]

My Ping Tung is my first ever homegrown eggplant fruit, but it will have some buddies very soon. I'll try to take a picture of it and post later, maybe tomorrow. It looks a lot like the photo you posted though. Pretty aren't they?

[Fert1]

Grrrrr! I took a couple of pictures, but now my camera phone is not acknowledging the memory card I just recently bought. This is very frustrating! I've only used the stupid thing once, and I bought it about a week ago. I don't know if the problem is with the memory card or the phone. I've taken out and reinstalled the memory card numerous times, and it still acts like it is not there!