Growing Eggplants

I love eggplant!  But I'll be the first to admit it is an acquired taste. It is an excellent source of vitamins and fiber, a great substitute for meat and extremely versatile in the kitchen.  It can be sauteed, fried, broiled, baked, grilled and roasted.

Eggplant comes in many different shapes, colors and sizes.  In year's past, I would grow only one variety, Black Beauty.  Last year, I was more adventurous, adding Shooting Stars and Long Purple eggplants to the mix.  This year I want to include four new varieties, Diamond, Ping Tung, Syrian Stuffing and Aswad eggplant.  I'm curious which variety will offer the highest yield and have the best taste!

I am allocating one entire raised bed and a half dozen containers in the hoophouse to the following eggplant varieties:

Eggplant (Aswad): Baker Creek, 2015. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics:  dark purple-black fruits, three pounds or more, shaped like a squat teardrop, flesh is sweet and tender, good for grilling and baking, heat tolerant, productive.

Eggplant (Black Beauty): Dollarseeds, 2013. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics: long-time standard, large black fruits, common eggplant since 1902, space 18" apart.

Eggplant (Diamond): Fedco Seeds, 2015. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics: 70 days, mild, dark purple, 6-9", 2-3" slender fruit, superb flavor and firm flesh, from Ukraine.

Eggplant (Long Purple): Botanical Interests, 2012. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics: long, slender purple variety, attractive and flavorsome.

Eggplant (Ping Tung): Baker Creek, 2015. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days.  Characteristics: 70 days, from Ping Tung, Taiwan, purple fruits up to 18" long and 2" in diameter, sweet and tender, space 18" apart.

Eggplant (Shooting Stars): Burpee, 2014.  Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics: delicately striped purple and white, 3-4" long, excellent container choice.
See: http://www.burpee.com/vegetables/garden-ready-vegetable-plants/eggplant-shooting-stars-prod003171.html

Eggplant (Syrian Stuffing): Baker Creek, 2015. Planted a dozen seeds in a 3 1/2" pot 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 10-21 days. Characteristics:  used for stuffing, medium-sized, purple-black fruits, superb flavor, rich and complex, harvest at 4-6 inches in length.

Other Seeds Sowed Today

Lemon Balm: Botanical Interests, ~2013. Planted ~30 seeds in 3 1/2" pot, pressing seeds into soil. Expected germination time, 10-15 days.  Characteristics: tender perennial (treat as annual), lemon fragrant foliage, white flowers, used by herbalists for insomnia and upset stomach, add to tea.

Portulaca (Double Mixture): Livingston Seeds, 2014.  Planted ~ 40 seeds in one 4"x8" container 1/8" deep. Expected germination time, 10-15 days.  Characteristics: annual, sun, 3"-6" tall, aka sun plant, heat and drought tolerant. bloom in a full range of color, large blooms, garden and container planting.

Postscript #1 - By accident, the top of one white hibiscus seedling snapped off.  A growlight slipped off its hook and fell upon it.  I will let this hibiscus grow on to see if it develops more lateral shoots and a stronger stem than the others.  The growlight landed on the asparagus, too, but with no damage.
Postscript #2 - Transplanted gypsophilia, delphinium, vinca and impatiens dwarf pink seedlings.
Postscript #3 - Thinned echinacaea and tetra ruffled snapdragons. 
Postscript #4 - There was germination from Independence Day tomatoes (sowed March 11, 5 days), Chinese Forget-Me-Nots (sowed March 10, 6 days), Peas, Super Sugar Snaps (sowed March 13, 3 days) and Broccoli Calabrese (sowed March 13, 3 days).