Author Topic: Asian Eggplants  (Read 5800 times)

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9012
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Asian Eggplants
« on: December 14, 2012, 05:52:27 AM »
http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/new/Sorting/CATALOGUE/Pt2-Asian-eggplants.html#Solanum-torvum

The above link shows a selection of asian eggplant varieties.There are loads of types and they are used differently from the large soft fruiting annual types.

I like small crunchy types in stir fries and many dishes.
 


This tiny pea sized solanum referred to as an eggplant seems closer to a small highly flavoured tomato.It is used to flavor many asian dishes.



zands

  • mango_zango
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4455
    • Zone 10b, Florida, USA, 33321
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #1 on: December 14, 2012, 08:00:30 AM »
http://www.evergreenseeds.com/eghybpurchar.html

The long purple ones that are also called Japanese and Chinese have a full (less watery) taste. Do you have one you like that can make it through Florida summers?


.
.
.

This purple eggplant photo is from Fiji


« Last Edit: December 14, 2012, 08:08:38 AM by zands »

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9012
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2012, 09:34:51 AM »
Zands all the crunchy and thai types would thrive in Florida summers.Those Japanese and Chinese types may struggle but their thai,viet and loas counterparts would be good.My summers are perhaps a bit hotter and wetter than anywhere in Florida and thger are many types I have grown and still have.They usually last several years.There are many long green ones that wouyld be well suited as well.I only grow the good tasting ones.

DurianLover

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1455
  • Bali, Indonesia
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2012, 12:35:05 PM »
Green ones are my favorite. They are almost as seeded as figs, and don't shrink much during cooking, unlike other types. Cooked with coconut milk, and Thai red curry paste is a preferred way.

Dangermouse01

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 320
  • East coast, Central Florida
    • USA, Palm Bay, FL 32907, Zone 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2012, 07:01:15 PM »
Zands, I've had good luck with Ichiban eggplants this year (tasty and look exactly like your first picture) in containers made from 5 gallon buckets. Others that did good for me and taste good are Gretel (a white type), and Hansel. This fall I am giving Kermit and Fairy tale a try in addition to those mentioned.

DM

natsgarden123

  • Guest
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2012, 10:59:21 AM »
Ping Tung Long  is the eggplant I grew last year- the plants lasted all through the summer, in fact, the plants produced for 6+ months!!!

try is- I bought my seeds on ebay

Zambezi

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 509
    • USA, Houston, TX. Zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2012, 08:09:27 PM »
Mike T
It was great to see all the different types..
I've grown 'Aspara'/manjarii. They look a little like the one in your hand in the first picture. The regular small purple asian egg plant is common at indian groceries, and are often stuffed and added to a tomato gravy..yum!

I didn't know they came in a variety so small.. the ones in the second pic... are they ripe when red/orange?
thanks for sharing your pictures...

zands

  • mango_zango
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4455
    • Zone 10b, Florida, USA, 33321
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2012, 02:44:23 PM »
Ping Tung Long  is the eggplant I grew last year- the plants lasted all through the summer, in fact, the plants produced for 6+ months!!!

try is- I bought my seeds on ebay

Thanks for telling me about their resistance to summer heat. They -seeds- are also on ebay under pingtung one word. They are from Taiwan which is roughly same latitude as Florida. I am going to look for some of Mike's exotic small ones too

zzz

natsgarden123

  • Guest
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2012, 02:54:18 PM »
Ping Tung Long  is the eggplant I grew last year- the plants lasted all through the summer, in fact, the plants produced for 6+ months!!!

try is- I bought my seeds on ebay

Thanks for telling me about their resistance to summer heat. They -seeds- are also on ebay under pingtung one word. They are from Taiwan which is roughly same latitude as Florida. I am going to look for some of Mike's exotic small ones too

zzz

The eggplants grew to all sizes: some were as much as 10+" long- They were  sweet tasting - we eat ours simply dipped in egg, then italian breadcrumbs, and fried.

let me know how it goes- one packet grew a lot of eggplant-my neighbors all had some  :)

zands

  • mango_zango
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4455
    • Zone 10b, Florida, USA, 33321
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2012, 05:41:43 PM »
Ping Tung Long  is the eggplant I grew last year- the plants lasted all through the summer, in fact, the plants produced for 6+ months!!!

try is- I bought my seeds on ebay

Thanks for telling me about their resistance to summer heat. They -seeds- are also on ebay under pingtung one word. They are from Taiwan which is roughly same latitude as Florida. I am going to look for some of Mike's exotic small ones too

zzz

The eggplants grew to all sizes: some were as much as 10+" long- They were  sweet tasting - we eat ours simply dipped in egg, then italian breadcrumbs, and fried.

let me know how it goes- one packet grew a lot of eggplant-my neighbors all had some  :)

Thanks. I bought some ping tung at the produce mart and thought they had a better fuller taste than the big black conventional ones. Less watery too which is a big plus, you get a more concentrated taste. You see these purple eggplants in Chinese restaurants. The Chinese know the difference.

If you want full taste from these eggplants you don't cut them up. You put a few in an oiled frying pan on low low heat. Cover the frying pan. Give then 30 minutes or more, you will know when they are done. You can turn them once or twice. This way all the juices are kept inside the eggplant. Can do this with zucchini and yellow squash and other vegetables. You can "bake" potatoes and sweet potatoes this way

LivingParadise

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 679
    • Florida Keys, Zone 11a
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #10 on: March 27, 2017, 09:49:05 AM »
Thanks for the recommendation! There appear to be some for sale on Etsy also. I prefer to buy from Amazon, but while there are two sellers listed, one is called "Unknown" and one does not have a good enough rating yet for me to want to bother, given that cost is like $15 for seeds.

I am excited to give these a try if they'll really grow through the rainy season down here!

Zafra

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 542
    • tropical, around 2700ft elevation
    • View Profile
    • Casa Abya Yala
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #11 on: March 27, 2017, 08:27:55 PM »
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, 62 eggplant varieties: http://www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/eggplant/
I just like to peruse the page like veggie porn :P

Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2017, 01:25:46 PM »
This is one eggplant I grow. It is very pretty, but has thorns. It does not shrivel when cooked and is very tasty. I cut it into thin slices and fry it till lightly brown. Sprinkle with salt and chili powder when cool. Makes excellent chips.


Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #13 on: May 24, 2017, 10:17:03 PM »
I grafted this eggplant on S.torvam rootstock. During the last four months, it produced over a 100 fruits after I sprayed it with GA3, 25 ppm to 40 ppm. Where usually there are only 1 or 2 fruits in each bunch, after GA3 treatment, there are 4 or 5 fruits.My housekeeper harvested all the fruits by the time I came back from the US.
This is from two bunches.

Photo of the graft union.


arvind

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
    • Malaysia
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #14 on: May 24, 2017, 11:23:01 PM »
I have the yellow sour species eggplant.Seemed hardier than the other eggplants species.The fruit looks like naranjilla

Chandramohan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 793
    • India, Kerala, Wynad
    • View Profile
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #15 on: December 22, 2017, 11:16:16 AM »
This is another of my Eggplants, grafted on S.torvum.


Kada

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 111
    • Taiwan
    • View Profile
    • Kada's Garden
Re: Asian Eggplants
« Reply #16 on: December 29, 2017, 04:17:11 AM »
Beautiful.  We are planting a bunch of Thai and Malaysian ones at the farm, first time growing yellow and white ones.

The pingtung one is nice, I am from pingtung here.  Most of the Taiwanese types are suited for high heat and humidity, so would be great in Florida most likely.