Eggplant, Organic, Purple Long Eggplant, Italian Heirloom~ 500 Vegetable Seeds ! Eggplant - Purple Long - Solanum melongena var. esculentum This Italian heirloom eggplant, Long Purple, produces dark purple cucumber-shaped fruit with firm, mild flesh! Tender Annual Purple Long eggplants are a prolific Italian variety. Heavily branched plants typically yield 4 or more dark-purple, cucumber-shaped fruits 8"-10" long. It yields well in northern climates. Originally from Asia, eggplant is a staple of Indian and Asian cuisines. It is grilled, baked, roasted, pickled, mashed, and dried. Soil & Water: Eggplants prefer moderately fertile, well-drained loamy soil supplemented with plenty of added organic matter and a pH of 6.0-6.8. Eggplants require heavy water and warm soil. Planting & Growing: Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Sow seeds directly in a warm climates only. Because eggplants need plenty of water and warm conditions to grow, production accessories such as drip irrigation, plastic mulch, and row covers are a good idea. All eggplants are chill sensitive. Harvesting & Storage: Begin harvesting early when fruits are half their mature size; young fruits are more tender and early picking will increase yields. Cut the fruit from the plant with shears leaving some stem attached.