Nipponese mad apple are recognise for their foresighted , svelte fruit , with thin peel and few seeds .
The mild , finely flavored chassis is less biting than some of the varieties you would typically encounter in the grocery store .
Some care to distinguish “ Nipponese Solanum melongena ” as a separate family of “ Asian eggplant , ” but quite often the two terms are used interchangeably to refer to the long , svelte , thin - skinned smorgasbord of this veg .
Photo by Felicia Lim.
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Many growers refer merely to “ Asian type ” eggplant bush when describing these – and I ’m choke to stick with their illustration throughout this article .
Solanum melongena are members ofthe nightshade family , which includestomatoes , peppers , andpotatoes .
Photo by Felicia Lim.
Along with their classifiable physical body and flavor , many of these variety show are betimes - maturing , bearing yield just two months after transplanting .
And in world-wide , these plants run to be vigorous , growing up to four metrical unit tall , and richly - yielding – piss them very attractive for the home gardener .
In this clause I ’ll be front at 21 dissimilar Asian eggplant varieties – some of which are Japanese , some of which are Chinese , some Indian , and some breed in the US .
Before we get started on our world tour , here ’s an overview of what I ’ll cover up :
21 of the Best Asian Eggplant Varieties
Dark Purple and Black Varieties
Asian Solanum melongena with blue purpleness to black skin color tend to originate primarily in Japan .
Here are 7 of my favored dark skinned cultivar :
1. Black Egg
This Japanese heirloom variety produces round , egg - shaped fruit that are sorry purple , almost sinister in semblance , with a black calyx .
‘ Black Egg ’
Tender , 4- to 5 - in - long yield with a balmy , perfumed flavor maturate on compact , vigorous industrial plant that mature to just 3 feet tall .
Ideal forcontainer growing , ‘ Black Egg ’ matures in 60 - 65 years .
you may happen semen for ‘ Black Egg ’ in a variety of packet sizesat Eden Brothers .
2. Finger Fruit
‘ Finger Fruit , ’ also known as ‘ Little Fingers , ’ is an heirloom cultivar that produces petite , colored royal eggplants that spring up on green stems .
The glossy purple fruit of this open - pollenate variety grow in bunch and have blunt ending .
They can be harvest when they are just 3 - 6 inches long – starting 60 days after transplanting .
‘ Finger Fruit ’
These tiny , slim eggplants are tender , with flimsy hide and few seminal fluid . The anatomy has a mildly sweet flavor .
‘ Finger Fruit ’ come are available in parcel of various sizesfrom Eden Brothers .
3. Ichiban
‘ Ichiban ’ is a Japanese loanblend that loves hot weather , but will also prosper in cooler climates – and it bears fruit all the way through to the first autumn frost .
Its name means “ best ” in Japanese , and many gardeners correspond that this is at the top of their Asian eggplant bush list !
‘ Ichiban ’ produce slim , purplish - smutty , 10 - column inch - farseeing fruits on purple shank .
The yield have tenuous skin with a delicate , sweet , and balmy flavor , and a succulent texture .
Plants grow in an vertical signifier , reaching 3 - 4 feet tall , and 2 - 3 pes wide at matureness .
‘ Ichiban ’
They do well in containers , and they are prolific and very early , bearing yield just 50 - 60 years after transplanting – with 12 fruit per works , on average .
you’re able to receive ‘ Ichiban ’ plants in 4 - inch pots fromBonnie Plants via Home Depot .
4. Kurume Long
herald from the city of Kurume in Japan ’s Fukuoka Prefecture , ‘ Kurume Long ’ is an open - pollinated cultivar that support shiny , 9- to 10 - column inch - long black yield on smutty root .
The mild , frail fruits of ‘ Kurume Long ’ are excellent for making tempura or for pickling .
This cultivar is vigorous and matures very early – just 60 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. from transplanting .
‘ Kurume Long ’ source are useable in packets of 0.5 g fromKitazawa Seed Company via Amazon .
5. Millionaire
A popular Japanese cultivar , ‘ Millionaire ’ is an ahead of time - age crossbreed that produces shiny black fruits . These are 8 - 12 inch long and 2 inches wide , with dark purple calyxes .
‘ Millionaire ’ has virtually no seeds in its tender , mild flesh , and is delectable roasted or grilled in shish kebabs .
‘ Millionaire ’
extremely productive plants are upright and fly high in hot weather condition , bearing advanced fruit just 50 - 60 days from transplanting .
‘ Millionaire ’ is usable in large number of 100 or 1000 seeds from Mountain Valley Seed Companyvia True Leaf Market .
6. Orient Express
‘ Orient Express ’ is a luxuriously - relent hybrid cultivar that will arrange fruit in both nerveless and hot weather .
Its showy black yield turn to 8 - 10 inches long and have a touchy flavor , sparse skins , and cutter flesh .
‘ Orient Express ’ seeds are slow to shoot , but the plant is tight - growing once it gets started .
This early maturing cultivar acquire an abundant harvest just 58 days from transplanting .
Plants will reach 24 - 30 inch tall and panoptic , get this multifariousness a great option for container farm .
7. Shikou
A hybrid variety show that agree up well to the heat , ‘ Shikou ’ bears dark purple , sheeny , thin - skinned yield that grow on purple stems .
With a name that mean “ supreme ” in Japanese , this cultivar produces 6- to 8 - in - long , elegant fruits that have very few seed .
Tender , meaty , and with a rich , nutty nip , ‘ Shikou ’ is idealistic for supply to bring up fries .
Fruits should be harvest when the skins are still shiny , starting at around 70 - 80 twenty-four hour period after transplanting .
‘ Shikou ’
The semi - spineless plant matured to a modest 18 - 24 inches tall , making this variety paragon for grow in container .
‘ Shikou ’ seeds are available in packet of various sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
8. Shoya Long
‘ Shoya Long ’ is a hybrid cultivar that is very popular in its native Japan . It bears exceptionally prospicient 14 to 16 - inch benighted royal yield on empurpled stems .
These long veggies are of all right quality , great for frying and for tempura .
plant mature upright , producing high yields .
‘ Shoya Long ’
right eggplants from this very early - get on cultivar can be harvested just 60 daylight after transplanting .
you’re able to find ‘ Shoya Long ’ seedsavailable from dependable Leaf Market .
Bright Purple Varieties
Typically from China , the bright purple Asiatic eggplant varieties are just as tender and tasty as the dark purple single .
Here ’s a choice of 5 of the best bright empurpled cultivars :
9. Fengyuan Purple
An heirloom open - pollinated variety from Taiwan , ‘ Fengyuan Purple ’ is a rarified cultivar .
The long , slender , cylindrical fruits can grow up to 12 inches long , and are hopeful purple with a purple calyx .
The flesh of these is creamy white-hot , gratuitous from bitter compound , and the pelt is fragile and delicate .
An early maturing diverseness , ‘ Fengyuan Purple ’ can be harvested after just 65 days .
10. Japanese Pickling
The longest Asian eggplant among my pick , the fruit of ‘ Japanese Pickling ’ can reach an astonishing 22 - 26 column inch in length !
Bright to dark purpleness in color , these are long , thin , and slenderly curved – measuring just 2 column inch in diameter .
‘ Japanese Pickling ’ mad apple are odoriferous and mellow taste with creamy , meaty soma – and as their name suggests , they lend themselves dead to pickling .
‘ Japanese Pickling ’
A mid - season cultivar , ‘ Japanese Pickling ’ has a honorable sprouting rate , and amount to maturity 75 - 85 day from transplanting .
you’re able to find mail boat of seeds for this varietyavailable from True Leaf Market .
11. Ping Tung Long
Very popular in Taiwan , ‘ Ping Tung Long ’ is an open - pollinated cultivar that bears fruit with hopeful royal skins and a green calyx .
Also make out as ‘ Ping Tung Elephant , ’ this kind bears fruit that grow up to 18 inch tenacious and 2 in in diam .
‘ Ping Tung Long ’
The longsighted fruits of this cultivar are angelical and tender with no soupcon of acerbity , and they will be ready to harvest in 65 - 70 days .
‘ Ping Tung Long ’ seed are uncommitted in a variety of packet sizesfrom High Mowing Organic Seeds .
12. Purple Comet
An Asian - character hybrid , ‘ Purple Comet ’ has neon - violet skin and stems that are green to empurple .
‘ Purple Comet ’ bring forth fruits that are approximately 10 inches long and 2 inches wide . These are odoriferous and meek , with succulent , tender white flesh .
They have few seeds , slight skins , and can be picked young without sacrificing any of their flavor .
‘ Purple Comet ’
Sturdy ‘ Purple Comet ’ plants have enceinte foliage and large blooms , and they amount to maturity in 70 days after transplantation .
‘ Purple Comet ’ is usable in packet of 25 seedsfrom Park Seed via Amazon .
13. Purple Shine
‘ Purple Shine ’ is a fat Chinese hybrid with lustrous , royal skin – and is often white at the top , just below its purple calyx .
This diverseness bears long , lithe fruits measuring 9 - 11 inches long and 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide .
unfluctuating and seedless , these mild eggplants are corking for veggie lasagna , or stimulate fried and swear out as a side dish .
‘ Purple Shine ’
grow on tall , upright , spreading plants , this prolific cultivar will come to maturity in 65 - 70 days .
‘ Purple Shine ’ seeds areavailable from genuine Leaf Market .
Pink and Lavender Varieties
These pastel cultivar of Asiatic - type aubergine are deserving try – if for nothing other than their bewitch colors .
Here are four of my preferent pink and lilac-colored cultivars :
14. Long Asian
With long imperial fruit that have a sweet , succulent taste with no tinge of thorniness , ‘ Long Asian ’ is an open - pollinated salmagundi .
‘ farseeing Asian ’ bears tender and delicious yield that grow to 8 - 10 inches long .
‘ Long Asiatic ’
‘ Long Asian ’ fruits will be ready to harvest – and bewilder on the grill – about 60 days after transplantation .
you’re able to happen seeds in a sort of packet sizesavailable from Eden Brothers .
15. Machiaw
‘ Machiaw ’ is a hybrid variety that deport pale purple to thick pinkish fruit .
‘ Machiaw ’ was one of the winners for best Asian type garden egg inPurdue University’s2008 Eggplant Variety Trial in central Missouri .
This variety bears beautiful fruit that are sore and tasty , develop 10 - 12 inches long and 1 - 1 1/2 inch wide .
‘ Machiaw ’
This too soon - maturing cultivar is quick to glean just 60 - 70 24-hour interval after transplantation .
‘ Machiaw ’ is available in mail boat of 25 seedsvia Amazon .
16. Orient Charm
‘ Orient Charm ’ is a richly - yield hybrid that grow fruit in a range of shades , from pallid lavender to shining fluorescent fixture pink .
Along with ‘ Machiaw , ’ this variety was another one of the winners for undecomposed Asian type eggplant in Purdue University ’s 2008 Eggplant Variety Trial in central Missouri .
Growing on green stems , the fruits of ‘ Orient Charm ’ turn to about 9 inches long and 2 in in diam , and are exchangeable in shape to ‘ Orient Express . ’
These delicately season fruits have very few seeds , and they develop on stiff , fat plant .
‘ Orient Charm ’
With this early on - grow sort , you ’ll have veggies ready to harvest just 65 days from transplantation .
‘ Orient Charm ’ is available in packet of 25 seed fromvia Amazon .
Green Varieties
Green mad apple are pop throughout Asia , where they seem to be just as widespread as purplish variety .
Here are five of the good green Asian type cultivars :
17. Bangladeshi Long
‘ Bangladeshi Long ’ is a fertile heirloom that is aboriginal to Bangladesh .
Its 8 - inch - foresighted , slightly curve fruits are striking – they have a grayish gullible colour with purple streak .
These slender - skinned veggies are never bitter and have a delightful , mild look .
They are perfect for use in Indian - inspire cuisine , such as this spicy aubergine curry formula that you could findon our babe site , Foodal .
The large , stout plants of ‘ Bangladeshi Long ’ reach 48 inches tall , and bear yield 75 - 80 days after transplanting .
18. Choryoku
‘ Choryoku ’ is a Japanese loanblend . Its 12 - inch - long yield have bright green hide and a fleeceable calyx .
The fruits of this cultivar mature long and straight with a firm texture , and they are gratifying and tasty – complete for grilling or grilling .
‘ Choryoku ’
mature on vigorous , fertile plants , ‘ Choryoku ’ will come to maturity in 80 day .
‘ Choryoku ’ seeds areavailable from True Leaf Market .
19. Green Knight
A hybrid variety , ‘ Green Knight ’ bears unripened - skinned fruit that reach 7 - 10 inches long . They are mild in savor , with few semen and a meaty grain .
An early - ripen sort , you ’ll be harvesting the succulent yield from these 34- to 36 - column inch plants in just 55 - 60 day .
‘ Green Knight ’
you could find packets of 30 seed , or 3 ‘ Green Knight ’ plants , usable at Burpee .
20. Hari
An Native American hybrid , ‘ Hari ’ has waxy immature , slender skin and grows from green stems .
Fruits reach 7 - 10 column inch long , and have tender flesh with a mild flavor and no hint of acerbity .
An extremist - early maturing variety , ‘ Hari ’ will be ready to reap in just 50 days .
21. Thai Long Green
Also experience as ‘ Green Elephant Tusk , ’ and sometimes just ‘ Thai Green , ’ the yield of this heirloom change from Thailand have adorable , light fluxing lime greenish colored skin and green stems .
Fruits are 10 - 12 column inch long , and have a mild , sugared flavor with very tender form .
The industrial plant of this open - cross-pollinate variety raise 2 - 3 feet marvelous and are drought resistant .
‘ Thai Long Green ’
This prospicient - time of year cultivar will be ready to harvest in 85 days .
‘ Thai Long Green ’ is uncommitted in packets of 200 seedsvia Amazon .
An Eggcellent Selection
Whether the Asiatic eggplant of your dreams is petite or serpentine , whether it ’s a super productive loanblend or an heirloom with a chronicle , whether it ’s sorry black , bright purple , pale pink , or calx green , with all these choices , you ’ll be indisputable to find one to give a particular spot to in your backyard garden .
And for more selective information aboutgrowing eggplantin your garden , determine out these guides next :
Photo by Felicia Lim © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . mathematical product photos via Burpee , David ’s Garden Seeds , Eden Brothers , Eggplant Seeds , Hazzard ’s Seeds , High Mowing Organic Seeds , Kitazawa Seed Company , Park Seed , Seeds of India , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock .
About
Kristina Hicks - Hamblin
