DESCRIPTION
Sturdy plants grow about 2.5 feet producing thin-skinned, mild tasting, purple fruits about 6 inches long. This variety is prolific, produces early and continues up to frost.
PROVENANCE
Seed is Oshkosh-grown, a combination of stock from Chris Hoetschl’s collection and Experimental Farm Network (seed grown in Wisconsin by Clint Freund of Cultivating the Commons).
GROWING RECOMMENDATIONS
Start indoors in early April for June transplant. Provide 18 to 24 inches of space between plants and rows. Especially if your garden gets wind damage, eggplants benefit from staking, since these plants can produce heavy loads of fruits.
SEED SAVING
To save true-to-type seeds from eggplants in an urban environment, they need to be isolated from pollinators with fine mesh erected over entire plants or organza party favor bags around individual flowers. Seed fruits need to be left on the plant far longer than typical harvest stage.
CULINARY USE
This is a good variety for European and Asian culinary traditions.
PRESERVING THE HARVEST
Cooked eggplant can be frozen.