Eggplants

Solanum melongena

My first crop of eggplants have been surprisingly resilient during extreme heatwave conditions this summer. Wilted and downcast looking plants soon regained their composure after watering and happily continued to produce more flowers and fruit.

Extensive Range Of Colours And Shapes

It is believed that these attractive grey-green leaved plants originated in India, reaching Europe during the middle ages. Grown throughout the world where warm climates occur at least during summer, eggplants have now evolved into an extensive range of colours and shapes.

Ranging from large oblong fruits to elongated fruits exceeding 30 centimetres in length, colours now range from the most common dark purple to pure white. In tropical and sub-tropical regions eggplants are perennials, but in Mediterranean climates they are an annual crop planted after the risk of frosts is over.

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Dark developing fruits have a glossy appearance and should be harvested when relatively young

Dark developing fruits have a glossy appearance and should be harvested when relatively young

‘Devil Bush” blossoms are profuse and a similar to tomato blossoms, however larger clusters of blooms are produced

‘Devil Bush” blossoms are profuse and a similar to tomato blossoms, however larger clusters of blooms are produced

The ‘Devil Bush’ shrubs have been pruned leaving only the branches to be grafted with eggplant stem tips

The ‘Devil Bush’ shrubs have been pruned leaving only the branches to be grafted with eggplant stem tips

This young ‘Devil Bush’ has now reached one metre in height and is ready for grafting

This young ‘Devil Bush’ has now reached one metre in height and is ready for grafting

Flowers are very ornamental contrasting strongly with the foliage

Flowers are very ornamental contrasting strongly with the foliage

One week after grafting the new growth begins to be produced. It is important to remove growths from below the graft

One week after grafting the new growth begins to be produced. It is important to remove growths from below the graft

A young eggplant displays pale green foliage that later becomes grey-green

A young eggplant displays pale green foliage that later becomes grey-green

  • Dark developing fruits have a glossy appearance and should be harvested when relatively young
  • ‘Devil Bush” blossoms are profuse and a similar to tomato blossoms, however larger clusters of blooms are produced
  • The ‘Devil Bush’ shrubs have been pruned leaving only the branches to be grafted with eggplant stem tips
  • This young ‘Devil Bush’ has now reached one metre in height and is ready for grafting
  • Flowers are very ornamental contrasting strongly with the foliage
  • One week after grafting the new growth begins to be produced. It is important to remove growths from below the graft
  • A young eggplant displays pale green foliage that later becomes grey-green

Easy To Grow

Eggfruit plants have very few pest and disease problems if grown in well drained soils in a sunny location. Fruits are not edible raw and carry their best flavour when not picked overripe. Having been grown for centuries in Southern Europe, they feature greatly in summer dishes throughout the Mediterranean.

Eggplants On My Hobby Farm

I have been keen to experiment with a close relative of eggplants in the farm garden this year by growing the ‘Devil Bush’, a shrub that can be used as a rootstock for grafting eggplants. This rootstock plant will develop into a large woody and very thorny shrub if not pruned each year.

The advantage of using a perennial rootstock is that a vigorous root system will produce a large crop of fruit , as well as avoiding the problem of replanting new seedlings each year. The top of this shrub does however need to be cut back and regrafted in late each spring each year in order to produce consistent crops.

The Popular ‘Devil Bush’

The ability of the ‘Devil Bush’ (Solanum macranthum) to strike easily from cuttings in warm weather, and their ease of grafting has now made these plants a common sight in gardens tended by southern Europeans. Their vicious thorns should however be treated with a great deal of respect, and it soon becomes apparent why these shrubs have earned their popular name.