Purple Shine Hybrid Eggplant F1

Purple Shine Eggplant is a hybrid variety that has a Chinese-type shape that is long and slender. Fruits have a striking appearance with shiny purple skin that becomes lighter (and sometimes white) towards the calyx. This is a very productive variety with tall, upright plants that provide heavy yields. Plants will produce in late spring/early summer and continue production throughout summer and into fall. Purple Shine fruits have an elongated shape and are usually 9-12" long with a 1-2" diameter. Purple Shine Eggplant is a great variety for making small slices for sauteing or frying.

Eggplant is in the nightshade family along with tomatoes and peppers. Plants in the nightshade family are susceptible to blossom end rot, which is a result of a calcium deficiency. To prevent or alleviate this problem, apply pelleted gypsum at the base of the plant at bloom set. Eggplant does best when transplanted, as the germination time can be longer than most vegetable seed. Eggplant grow very well in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Plants should be started 4-6 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date. If conditions outside are favorable, then your transplants are ready to be planted directly from our 162-cell trays. If conditions are still too cold for planting eggplant, transplants may be "stepped-up" to 4" pots to provide more room to grow. Eggplants produce heavy fruits and will require some form of support to keep the plant upright. We recommend using the Florida Weave trellising technique that involves using stakes and twine along the row. This ensures that plants and fruits stay off the ground, reducing the possibility of disease and keeping fruits clean.

Purple Shine Eggplant Planting Information

Planting Method: transplant

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1/4"

Seed Spacing: 2'

Row Spacing: 3-4'

Days to Maturity: 70

Disease Resistance: None