TALONG SEED`S HYBRID (LONG PURPLE EGGPLANT)

The Long Purple Eggplant is a Long Purple Eggplant - who'd a guessed ? The original Long Purple eggplant is an Old World Italian Heirloom and prized in European Cuisines as Black Beauty is in American.There are several hybrid impostors that are not actually heirlooms - but their characteristics are similar and in some cases superior so far as disease resistance is concerned.The dark purple eggplants reach about 8 - 10" in length - occasionally a tad longer - However they are best used before they reach full maturity. Over ripe and fully mature eggplants are not as tender and are sometimes bitter - sounds like some people I've known.Start seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before planting outdoors.Maturity at 70-80 days from transplant.Eggplant grows best in a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil, fairly high in organic matter. Start early indoors in peat pots or cell packsRows should be 3 to 5 ft. apart. Plants should be 2 to 3 ft. apart. Transplants should be about 6 weeks old and slightly hardened, grown in 2 inch. or larger pots.All eggplant varieties are highly susceptible to flea beetle attack particularly early in the season. Aphids also attack these plants and come later in the season. Varieties of Aphids that attack eggplants are generally either a light blue-green or amber, sometimes black.