HS1243 Conventional and Specialty Eggplant Varieties in Florida1 Monica Ozores-Hampton2 Eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) are members of the US eggplant production was valued at $42.5 million, and nightshade family Solanaceae. Cultural practices employed Georgia, Florida, California, New Jersey, and New York in eggplant production are similar to other agronomic were the top five producers. From winter 2007 to winter members of the Solanaceae family, such as tomatoes and 2009, Florida’s average national market share for eggplants peppers. Eggplants are warm-season plants that are more was 24%. In 2007, Florida was ranked second in eggplant vulnerable to cold temperatures than tomatoes. For most production with 76 farms harvesting 1,173 acres (USDA of the nation, eggplants are best suited for production 2009). California statistics for 2009 indicate the state during warmer months. However, in south Florida, where harvested more than 17,300 short tons of eggplants valued winters are mild and freezes are infrequent, eggplants are at $11.8 million. In 2011, California was the largest eggplant planted from August to March (Andersen 2013). Eggplants producer with 1,446 acres (Thornsbury 2013). The average grow best when started from transplants initially grown in yield of eggplant is 762 bushels per acre (bu./ac.) with an protected structures, such as greenhouses, and they prefer approximate price of $14 per 1/9 bushel box (in 2017) well-drained, sandy, and loam soil with temperatures be- (USDA ARS 2017). Eggplants are sold during an approxi- tween 70˚F to 85˚F (Doubrava and Miller 2003). Although mate 10-month period throughout the year—with 25% eggplants are considered vegetables, botanically they are a harvested in the winter (January–March), 40% harvested fruit because they derive from an ovary. Because of their in the spring (April–mid-July), and 35% harvested in the cooking versatility and ability to absorb flavor, eggplants fall (mid-September –December). South Florida is the main are used in many cultural dishes and cuisines. Even though region for eggplant production in the state. The majority eggplants are not a high source of any vitamin or mineral, of the harvested acreage is in Palm Beach County, with they can add color and flavor to dishes with minimal significant production in Miami-Dade, Hendry, Collier, calories (one cup of cooked eggplant is 38 calories). Most Manatee, Lee, and Hillsborough Counties. The remainder eggplant varieties are fairly similar except for the size and of eggplant production is distributed throughout the skin, and they can be used interchangeably in recipes. state (UF/IFAS Extension Hendry County director Gene McAvoy, personal communication). The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not collected complete domestic production statistics for eggplants since 2001 (Huntrods and Lore 2012). That year, 1. This document is HS1243, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 2014. Revised October 2017. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. Monica Ozores-Hampton, associate professor; UF/IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Immokalee, FL 34142. UF/IFAS does not endorse the commercial varieties named in this publication, and references to them do not signify our approval to the exclusion of other commercial varieties. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Eggplant Varieties Here is a guide to eggplant varieties commonly used in Florida (Tables 1 and 2): Table 1. Conventional, specialty, and heirloom eggplant varieties for Florida. Type/Variety Producer Dealer Season Characteristics of Plant and Resistance Comments (Relative Fruit Maturity) Typical American: Usually packed in a decaliter or a modified 1 1/9-bu. box and graded either “fancy” or “choice” with three sizes: giant (12–14 count), fancy (16–18 count), and small (20–24 count). Classic Harris Clifton Seed 65 days Plants are erect, vigorous, and R to ToM Classic is the Moran Company, Harris tall. The upright plants support industry standard Seed Seeds, and heavy yields of high-quality in dark-purple Company Seedway fruit, which becomes smaller eggplants. The as the plant matures. The oval plants do not fruit is elongated and glossy perform well in with a green calyx. The deep cooler weather. purple-black fruit has a fancy appearance and may turn a reddish color when mature. Nadia Vilmorin Johnny’s 70 days Plants are strong, tall, and R to ToM Good fruit sets Vegetable Selected Seeds, vigorous. Plants produce high under cool Seeds Osborne Seed yields of oval, long, and very firm conditions. Company, fruit. The attractive, purple-black The fruit has an Reimer Seeds, fruit has a long harvest period. excellent shelf life. Siegers Seed Co., and Stokes Seeds Inc. Night Shadow Seminis Osborne Seed 75 days Plants are strong and widely R to BES, Plants have Company, adapted with a high-yield TM, ToM reduced blossom- Siegers Seed potential. Plants produce firm, end scar. Plants Co., and Stokes elongated, and oval fruit that are suitable for Seeds Inc. maintains a rich, glossy, and freezing. black color through harvest. Santana Syngenta Chile Plants. 80 days Plants are tall, vigorous, and None Plants com, Clifton upright with few spines. Fruit continuously Seed Company, has a firm, glossy, and black- set. Early fruit is and Siegers purple exterior. The fruit has a smaller (22–24 Seed Co. white flesh with an attractive, count). bright-green calyx. Conventional and Specialty Eggplant Varieties in Florida 2 Type/Variety Producer Dealer Season Characteristics of Plant and Resistance Comments (Relative Fruit Maturity) Traviata Enza Harris Seeds, 68 days Plants are well balanced and None Plants are Zaden High Mowing produce fruit that is strong recommended Organic Seeds, growing, high quality, and firm. for spring Johnny’s Fruit look smaller (22–24 count) and summer Selected Seeds, but are very uniform in size. Fruit protected crop Osborne Seed has a very attractive, shiny, and and open field Company, purple color. cultivation. Plants The Natural are continuous Gardening and have a very Company, and high overall West Coast production. Seeds Organic seed available. USDA—ORGANIC Sicilian: Usually packed in a decaliter box or a modified 1 1/9-bu. box. Birgah Seminis Stokes Seeds 65 days Plants have round, heavy, and R to ToM Fruit has a sweet Inc. firm fruit. Fruit has a deep- taste. purple color and white flesh. Italian Pink Bicolor Fratelli Stokes Seeds 75 days Plants have oval fruit with a None Plants are open Inc. creamy rose color that matures pollinated and to a rose-pink color with a suitable for purple calyx. freezing. White: Usually packed in a half bu. box. Ghostbuster Harris Clifton Seed 72 days Plants are broad and semi- None Fruit is sweeter Moran Company, Harris upright. Plants produce white, and tastier than Seed Seeds, and oval-shaped fruit that is 6 to dark-skinned Company Seedway 7-inches long. varieties. Fruit is best harvested early before it starts to turn yellow. Italian: Usually packed in a half bu. box Megal Vilmorin Chile Plants. 62 days Plants have Italian, cylindrical R to CM Fruit has an Vegetable com, Osborne fruit with a purple-black color. and TM, excellent shelf Seeds Seed Company, Fruit is very uniform with only a ToM life and flavor. Siegers Seed few spines. Plants are Co., Stokes recommended for Seeds Inc., and local markets and Reimer Seeds specialty growers. Conventional and Specialty Eggplant Varieties in Florida 3 Type/Variety Producer Dealer Season Characteristics of Plant and Resistance Comments (Relative Fruit Maturity) Vittoria Not Chile Plants. 61 days Plants have very long cylindrical R to TM Fruit has a mild available com, OSC and deep-purple fruit with a flavor. Organic Seeds, Reimer green calyx. seed available. Seeds, Seeds USDA—ORGANIC of Change, and Sweet Corn Organic Nursery Japanese: Usually packed in a half bu. box. Millionaire Not Burpee, 55 days Plants have slender, oriental- None Plants are good available Evergreen type fruit that is dark purple. The for greenhouses, Seeds, Jung, fruit also has a purple calyx, soft open fields, and Kitazawa Seed skin, and tender flesh. home gardens. Co., Osborne Seed Company, Reimer Seeds, Stokes Seeds Inc., and Territorial Seed Company Spanish or Dominican: Usually packed in a decaliter box or a modified 1 1/9-bu. box. Zebra Not Reimer Seeds 65 days Plants have elongated and oval- None Fruit is very available and Morningsun shaped fruit. Fruit is variegated attractive and has Herb Farm with purple and white stripes a good flavor. and grows about 8 inches long by 4 inches wide. Table 2. Disease key to abbreviations. BES Blossom end scar CM Cucumber mosaic virus Huntrods, D., and J. Lore. 2012. Eggplant Profile. Agricul- TM Tobacco mosaic virus tural Marketing Resource Center (AgMRC), Iowa State ToM Tomato mosaic virus Univ. http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/ R Resistant vegetables/eggplant-profile/ References Thornsbury, S., H. F. Wells, and J. Bond. 2013. “Vegetables Andersen, C. R. 2013. Eggplant. Univ. Arkansas. Agri. and and Pulses Yearbook Data.” US Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources. Home Gardening Series FSA6010. 1 http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/ers/VEGANDPULS- Sept. 2013.