Solanum melongena
Origin: Italy (most likely)
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~40
Germination tested 11/2023: 81%
Life cycle: Annual
This is a beautiful, long, slender, purple slicing eggplant, with tender fruits that grow to 8” or longer. Though all eggplants trace their roots to Asia (possibly with two separate domestication events from the species Solanum incanum, one in East Asia and another in South Asia), we believe this variety has roots in Italy. According to our seed source, Restoration Seeds, this variety is ideal for anything from Italian to Japanese. We can't wait to try it in African and Indian dishes too! Productive plants grows 24–30” tall and generate 6–8 eggplants on average. Enjoy a bounty of this tasty vegetable all summer!