Eggplant like Fairy Tale?

scottfsmith · February 28, 2007

Last year I grew Fairy Tale eggplant plus a Thai variety. I was really impressed with Fairy Tale: the skin was very thin and tender and non-bitter, they look beautiful, it cooked up quickly to a not-too-strong taste, and the plant was an easy grower and productive. I am thinking of growing it again but wondered if anyone has grown an eggplant with similar qualities. I haven't grown many types so don't have a lot of comparison, but I never recall an eggplant with such tender skin.

Scott

**nctomatoman** · February 28, 2007

There are so many great eggplant - try Machiaw or Orient Charm or Snowy or Orient Express from JSS, Antigua from TGSC just as a start. Great colors, easy to grow, nice sweet tender flesh....

MawkHawk · February 28, 2007

I grew Fairy Tale last year and loved it as well. I haven't grown anything else quite like it. FT is really good sliced, tossed in some olive oil and fresh herbs, then baked. Yum. FT was a heavy yielder for me as well.

scottfsmith · February 28, 2007

Craig, I also thought Fairy Tale was pretty unique. I have grown half a dozen varieties over the years and can never recall a variety with such paper-thin, pleasant-tasting skin or which cooked up so fast (the latter is important for me because I can't stand undercooked eggplant).

Scott

mouse · March 13, 2007

Could you please let me know where you have found the best prices for Fairy Tale seeds? So far, the best prices I have seen are from Mountain Valley Seeds, SLC, Utah, 100 seeds for $8.14.

I also have found Applegreen to be very good and early. Green Goddess very productive and tender as well; however my source, Pinetree, discontinued this variety, and i would be grateful for a retailer for this Sakata cultivar.

Thanks.

mouse

gardenmaniac · March 14, 2007

mouse- Johnny’s Selected Seeds has them cheaper. You’ll have to check on shipping. If I remember correctly, they are the ones who bred Fairytale, but I could be wrong… You might want to check up on the Johnnys thread here to see what has been recently happening with the company and make your own decision, but I will continue to order from them.

Tiffanie

ddsack · March 15, 2007

Tomato Growers Supply Company catalog has them, 30 seeds for $3.05

Very prolific on the plant, but the small size of the many fruits made it seem more like an ornamental to me, kind of a bother to need so many for a meal. Very pretty plant, will regrow until I run out of seeds.

TGS does have both Apple Green at $2.15 per packet, and Green Goddess at $2.75 in their online catalog.
http://www.tomatogrowers.com/eggplant.htm

sirtanon · March 16, 2007

I suppose it depends on how many you want. If you just want 30 or so, then the other suggestions are great. I buy lots of seed from HPS - they sell in quantities up to and over a POUND

Prices are great too!

In any case, they offer Fairy Tale seed in quantities of 100 ($6.50), 200 ($11.45), 500, and 1000.

mouse · March 18, 2007

Friends,

Thanks all for the very helpful input. Willhite seeds has a number of interesting hybrids from India at fair prices that may be worth a look, especially for our mad Aussie friends [mad for eggplants, that is]!

I have a list [to post later] from the Asian Veg. Research and Dev. Ctr., Taiwan, the germplasm center for Asian and African eggplants, that lists dry matter and sugar contents. Some of the Indian cultivars rate the highest, although the status of the hybrids is unknown; with higher yields coming more punky ground tissue rather than a proportionately large increase in photosynthetic rate, which is more difficult to achieve.

m

February 28, 2007	#1
scottfsmith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 53	Eggplant like Fairy Tale? Last year I grew Fairy Tale eggplant plus a Thai variety. I was really impressed with Fairy Tale: the skin was very thin and tender and non-bitter, they look beautiful, it cooked up quickly to a not-too-strong taste, and the plant was an easy grower and productive. I am thinking of growing it again but wondered if anyone has grown an eggplant with similar qualities. I haven't grown many types so don't have a lot of comparison, but I never recall an eggplant with such tender skin. Scott

February 28, 2007	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	There are so many great eggplant - try Machiaw or Orient Charm or Snowy or Orient Express from JSS, Antigua from TGSC just as a start. Great colors, easy to grow, nice sweet tender flesh.... __________________ Craig

February 28, 2007	#3
MawkHawk Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro Detroit/Z6 Posts: 168	I grew Fairy Tale last year and loved it as well. I haven't grown anything else quite like it. FT is really good sliced, tossed in some olive oil and fresh herbs, then baked. Yum. FT was a heavy yielder for me as well. __________________ Mark

March 13, 2007	#5
mouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Posts: 25	Could you please let me know where you have found the best prices for Fairy Tale seeds? So far, the best prices I have seen are from Mountain Valley Seeds, SLC, Utah, 100 seeds for $8.14. I also have found Applegreen to be very good and early. Green Goddess very productive and tender as well; however my source, Pinetree, discontinued this variety, and i would be grateful for a retailer for this Sakata cultivar. Thanks. mouse Last edited by mouse; March 13, 2007 at 01:39 PM. Reason: added material

March 15, 2007	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Fairy tale hybrid eggplant - Tomato Growers Supply Company catalog has them, 30 seeds for $3.05 Very prolific on the plant, but the small size of the many fruits made it seem more like an ornamental to me, kind of a bother to need so many for a meal. Very pretty plant, will regrow until I run out of seeds. TGS does have both Apple Green at $2.15 per packet, and Green Goddess at $2.75 in their online catalog. http://www.tomatogrowers.com/eggplant.htm

March 14, 2007	#6
gardenmaniac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Florida Posts: 82	mouse- Johnny’s Selected Seeds has them cheaper. You’ll have to check on shipping. If I remember correctly, they are the ones who bred Fairytale, but I could be wrong… You might want to check up on the Johnnys thread here to see what has been recently happening with the company and make your own decision, but I will continue to order from them. Tiffanie

March 16, 2007	#8
sirtanon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ (zone 9b) Posts: 796	I suppose it depends on how many you want. If you just want 30 or so, then the other suggestions are great. I buy lots of seed from HPS - they sell in quantities up to and over a POUND Prices are great too! In any case, they offer Fairy Tale seed in quantities of 100 ($6.50), 200 ($11.45), 500, and 1000. __________________ I could sail by on the winds of silence, and maybe they won't notice... but this time I think it would be better if I swim..

March 18, 2007	#9
mouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: usa Posts: 25	Friends, Thanks all for the very helpful input. Willhite seeds has a number of interesting hybrids from India at fair prices that may be worth a look, especially for our mad Aussie friends [mad for eggplants, that is]! I have a list [to post later] from the Asian Veg. Research and Dev. Ctr., Taiwan, the germplasm center for Asian and African eggplants, that lists dry matter and sugar contents. Some of the Indian cultivars rate the highest, although the status of the hybrids is unknown; with higher yields coming more punky ground tissue rather than a proportionately large increase in photosynthetic rate, which is more difficult to achieve. m Last edited by mouse; March 18, 2007 at 04:41 AM.