EGGPLANT - CASPER

EGGPLANT - CASPER

Solanum melongena

This vegetable grows on small bushes with large, coarse, hairy,

grey-green leaves.  The star-shaped flowers are an attractive

mauve colour. It produces very early, white fruit with a creamy

texture, no bitterness and great flavour. Being a native of Africa

and Southern Asia, this plant requires a long, warm growing

season.

 Plants can take from 14 to 16 weeks to bear the eggplant fruit

It is best to start seedlings in a punnet or seedling tray and

plant out into the garden when around 15 cm and the soil 25 C

Give plants plenty of space, about a square metre each. They

require no staking until until fully laden with fruit unless planted

in a windy spot. Plant seeds in Tropical areas anytime:

Subtropics from August to March:   Warm Temperate areas

from August to December     Cool Temperate areas from

October to December.  Sow seeds in trays or pots 0.5 mm

deep about 6-8 weeks prior to last frost. Plant seedlings

50-90 cm apart in rows 90 cm apart.  Eggplant seed takes

about 15 days to germinate so be patient.

QTY 40 seeds