With their purple flowers and colorful fruits, eggplants look good in any garden. Eggplants also are unique among vegetables -- their meaty, hearty texture and taste make them one of the most satisfying vegetables to eat, and a popular ingredient in many vegetable recipes. In this article, we'll talk about growing eggplant.
 The typical home garden variety of eggplant produces shiny, dark purple fruit. See more pictures of eggplants and eggplant recipes. |
Eggplant is grown as an annual and has large, hairy, grayish-green leaves. The star-shaped flowers are lavender with yellow centers. The long, slender or round, egg-shaped fruit can be creamy white, yellow, brown, or purple, depending on the variety. Eggplants will grow 2 to 6 feet tall, depending on the variety. Typical home garden varieties produce fruit that is rounded with shiny, dark purple skins. The Asian varieties produce fruit that is slender and elongated with skin that is usually dull purple in color. Eggplant belongs to the tobacco family and is related to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers.
Common Name: Eggplant
Scientific Name: Solanum melongena
Hardiness: Very Tender (will not survive frost)
In the next section, we'll show you how to grow eggplant.
Want more information about eggplant? Try:
- Vegetable Recipes: Find delicious recipes that feature eggplant.
- How to Prepare Eggplant: Learn how to prepare eggplant, including tips on roasting eggplant.
- Vegetable Gardens: Grow a full harvest of great vegetables this year.
- Gardening: We answer your questions about all things that come from the garden.
