Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible. I buy a basket of the adorable veggies from every vendor who sells them at the farmers market. Serve warm. As for the cooks? Your email address will not be published. Both an under-ripe and overripe eggplant will be bitter tasting. Learning how to harvest an eggplant correctly comes with practice, but it shouldnt take long before youre picking an eggplant like a pro. Slovakia, Powered by Spain, plants, like when you are growing Fairy Tale eggplants, its an extra bonus. mix. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { Note: Nutritional profile depends on the variety, growing season, conditions, etc. Cyprus, New miniature eggplants are white with violet/purple stripes. The miniature eggplants grow 3-4 (8-10cm) long with beautiful bright plum coloring and white stripes. Roasting helps the vegetables keep their shape beautifully, very different from the traditional relish style. The ideal pH for fairy tale eggplant growth is between 5.5 and 7.2. It is important that the seeds are quality seeds to have a high germination rate. The substrate should be moist and warm to favor germination. Beautiful, 2- to 4-inch-long, purple- and white-striped fruits are borne abundantly on compact 18- to 24-inch-tall plants. Add a handful of organic fertilizer to the bottom of the hole and mix in with the soil. For instance, theres the Italian classic: cheesy, saucy eggplant parm, in which the eggplant is sliced and breaded. Growing Tips Cultivars to Select Managing Pests and Disease Harvesting Recipes and Cooking Ideas An Eggplant Primer Eggplants typically grow 18 to 36 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. Keep the soil moist and warm, around 75 degrees. Fresh fairy tale eggplants on the table top. Theyre fast to grow, tender, sweet, creamy, and flavorful, and they produce a ton of fruit, sometimes in clusters. His Vegetable Garden Growers Masterclass is available online. Estonia, Likewise, we have worked for companies such as Mondelez International, BASF, Monsanto, etc. The ideal depth for planting fairy tale eggplant seeds is about to (0.6 to 1.3 cm). They can be rather productive but also decorative plants. This site uses cookies to personalize your experience, measure site performance, and show you relevant offers and advertisements. Fairy Tale eggplants can be prone to pest problems, so be sure to monitor your plants regularly and take steps to control any pests that may appear. Sweden, About Eggplants It's like having "the talk". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); With your FREEBIE, youll also receive regular email messages from the Food Gardening Network. Sow 3-4 seeds per inch in a good potting mix, some 1/4 inch (6-8 mm) deep, and keep the soil temperature relatively high (at least 75F, 24C) for the eggplants to germinate. Sign up for our newsletter. As for the cooks? Also the plant is very productive! (I could go on and on.). This can help fight many diseases. on: function(evt, cb) { First, observe that the eggplant is between 3 and 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) long because this is when Fairy Tale eggplants have the best flavor. Compared to a large purple Italian eggplant, fairy tell eggplants have a softer more tender skin. By clicking ALLOW or clicking on any other content, you agree that cookies can be placed. It is important not to plant fairy tale eggplant where you have previously planted potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, or other eggplants the previous year. Cara Mangini is executive chef & owner of Little Eater, a produce-inspired restaurant and food product company, in Columbus, OH. Similarly, when planting them in containers, 16 inches wide and deep containers are good enough, but 20-24 inches (51-61 cm) wide and deep containers are much better. Freshen up your indoor garden by following these easy tips! This will be used for basting the eggplant for grilling. Once you see purple and white fruit on your plants, you will be ready to harvest. 'Fairy Tale' was a 2005 All-America Selection (AAS) winner. When the eggplant slices are almost done, put just a little bit of butter on top of each slice and let it melt - when the butter has melted, remove the eggplant slices from the pan and serve them warm as a side dish. 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Press the soil into place and water thoroughly. Leave one inch of green stem attached to the fruit. Talk to a Johnny's Grower
From here on out, the second you spot any darling variety, you can buy as many as you wish. Discount given at time of purchase will be deducted from returned merchandise. The fruit are non-bitter, with a tender skin and few seeds. With the fruits of this plant, you can prepare delicious dishes. We independently select these productsif you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Extra 10% Off Entire Order w/ Code DADSGROW. Thailand, Attractive, 24" long by 3/41 1/4" diameter, fruits are borne abundantly on compact 18-24" plants. Fairy Tale eggplants need a consistent supply of water to grow well, so be sure to water your plants regularly, especially during dry spells. Please tell us about your experiences. pick a sunny site that offers rich, organic soil. A 4-5 year rotation for all Solanaceae crops is recommended. Large globe eggplants can be halved, then roasted, grilled, or cut into 1/4-inch rounds for baking into recipes like eggplant parmesan. Avoid storing eggplants with apples or tomatoes; ethylene (a natural plant hormone released in the form of a gas) given off by those fruits will cause eggplants to brown and decay. wide and deep. This should include companion gardening and crop rotation, and if really required, some organic insecticides and fungicides. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing. Fairy Tale Eggplant Care Plant Fairy Tale Eggplants once the weather warms and is past the last frost date. Since eggplants are generally very sensitive to frost, You can either start the seeds indoors 6-10 weeks before the last frost date in your area or purchase seedlings from a nursery or garden center. Learn how to prune and harvest yourfavorite herbs, like basil and parsley. Add a layer of mulch some 3-5 inches (8-12.5 cm) thick around the eggplants, and when fertilizing the plants, simply move the straw aside, fertilize the plants, water them, and put the straw/mulch back into its position. When you start growing Fairy Tale eggplant, you'll need to pick a sunny site that offers rich, organic soil. Finally, once you've got beautiful purple and white fruit appearing on your plants, you'll soon be ready to harvest. . Note: Hardening is not an absolute requirement, especially in areas with a warm climate, but hardened plants are much tougher to lower temperatures and drought. They can be found at a Farmer's Market. 3) The plant grows up to 2 feet tall and wide. Fairy Tale eggplant is considered one of the best-tasting eggplants. The petite plant reaches only 2 feet tall and wide, perfect for container gardening. The eggplant fruit is a beautiful purple with white streaks. Also, adding some balanced 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 NPK fertilizer can help with the growth of young plants - balance is the key since too much of nutrients is not good, especially too much nitrogen, which can cause plants to grow quickly, but they are actually weak and prone to mechanical damage and diseases. Average number of days from seeding date to harvest, within a specific crop group. Seedlings emerge in two to three weeks and must be hardened off before transplanting to the garden. When you start growing Fairy Tale eggplant, you'll need to pick a sunny site that offers rich, organic soil. Read on for more It's important to give your plants room to grow, so we recommend putting no more than 3 seed pods into your tall garden (Bounty, Farm Plus or Farm XL) and covering the remaining holes with spacers. In France, eggplant gets along beautifully with a medley of other seasonal veggies in ratatouille. Bahamas, This allows the gardeners to tailor the soil to fit perfectly to eggplants - pH 6.2-6.7, well aerated, good drainage, plenty of organic matter, etc. A member of the nightshade family and a relative of tomatoes, the appearance of the skin can direct you to picking an eggplant. { The harvest can begin in just 49 to 51 days from transplanting. Lithuania, Grill the eggplant in a grill basket over medium-high heat, covered. One of my personal recipes is grilled Fairy Tale eggplant. We specified 6 in the recipe to feed 4 but it's a very flexible recipe. So, fill the raised beds, pots, containers and/or grow bags with good potting soil, thoroughly mix with worm castings, compost, and aged manure and add some balanced NPK fertilizer, 15-15-15, for example. In its advance from its native South Asia, this nightshade (a relative of potatoes, tomatoes and peppers) has inspired a number of classics across a variety of cuisines. At planting time I added a bit of compost and some Happy Frog Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer (7-4-5) to the potting soil. Fairy Tale eggplants are prepared just as any other eggplant - roasted, cooked in stews, baked in an oven, grilled, and similar. Sprinkle evenly with the chopped mint then the feta cheese. For the patches where the gardener has to work with the soil often, for example, to fertilize every 3-4 weeks, perhaps the best mulch is straw (straw, not hay; hay can be full of various seeds). The fruit is not bitter, is sweet, and has few seeds. This setting should only be used on your home or work computer. Adjust as needed for the amount being served. Theres even more to this specialty variety than meets the eye. Netherlands, Disinfecting the tools prevents the plants from getting sick. Continue reading to learn how to grow fairy tale eggplant. How To Stop Firefly Population Decline, Growing Superbo Basil Herbs What Are Superbo Basil Uses, Do Sunflowers Transplant Well Learn About Moving Sunflower Plants, Gardening With Color: Learn About Using Color In The Garden, Popular Spinach Varieties: Growing Different Types Of Spinach, Home & Garden Marketplace: Advertiser Info. Bury the fairy tale eggplant seed no more than inch (0.6 cm) deep, and keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own gardenwith our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox. When harvesting eggplants, treat the fruit gently, as it bruises easily. France, Transplant the seedling into an ample hole at the same depth as it grew Always keep the soil moist and warm but never waterlogged. 50 days after planting, the fairy tale eggplant can be harvested. If you are wondering how to grow Fairy Tale eggplants, you can sow the seeds indoors a few months before the last spring frost. The fruits are tastiest when they are between 3 and 4 (8 to 10 cm) in length. Seedlings emerge in two to three weeks and must be hardened off before transplanting to the garden. When preparing a soil patch that already features good, slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter, be sure to add some aged manure, compost and/or worm castings and to till the soil at least 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) deep. Am I right? long. Italy, Cut eggplant fruits from the plant with a garden pruner or sharp knife. Important to remember that if the flowers of the fairy tale eggplant were not pollinated, there will be no fruit to harvest. View Recipe Explore Bon Apptit. Most varieties will take to stir-frying, grilling, and roasting in slices to be enjoyed as is (or roasting whole to be peeled and pured). Eggplant has many fans, but its not considered an especially gorgeous vegetable plant. Shop Now. If you've got questions about taking care of this trendy and tasty plant, read on! Then check that they are firm to the touch and have nice shiny skin. Make sure the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Sow seed in. This goes not only for Fairy Tale eggplants but for most similar vegetables. Common Eggplant Varieties: Learn About The Types Of Eggplant, Types Of White Eggplant: Are There Eggplants That Are White, Thick Tomato Skins: What Causes Tough Tomato Skin, Common Backyard Birds Of The Ohio Valley Region, Turn Off The Lights! The plant will produce more fruit if kept picked. Especially, those sweet little Fairy Tale eggplants. They're fast to grow, tender, sweet, creamy, and flavorful, and they produce a ton of fruit, sometimes in clusters. Pick fruits of desired size regularly to encourage further production. In this article, we will talk about how and when to harvest Fairy Tale eggplant, and we will also explain some tips on how to grow Fairy Tale eggplant to have an abundant harvest. Slovenia, Eggplants are very difficult to pull away from the plant by hand; doing so can damage the plant. When the soil is properly prepared, when adding fertilizers in smaller amounts regularly keeps the nutrient levels more or less constant, helping the plants grow, flower, and grow tasty fruits with no bitterness. I hope this article about how to grow fairy tale eggplant will be useful and have an excellent harvest. Squeeze it with a paper or kitchen towel to remove excess salt and water. Product Features Fairy Tale (F1) Eggplant Seed Product ID: 2260 Purple-and-white mini eggplant. The harvest can begin in just 49 to 51 days from transplanting. } Once you see purple and white fruit on your plants, you will be ready to harvest. What is a Fairy Tale eggplant? If you plant in June, you should expect to be able to harvest through August, September and even early October. The tender fruits have no bitterness and taste great grilled, stir-fried, or roasted. Fairy Tale F1 Eggplant Seeds - Non-GMO - 10 Seeds 1 Package = 10 Seeds New miniature eggplants are white with violet/purple stripes. Food Gardening Network and Food Gardening Magazine are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC. Fairy tale eggplant tastes best when they are 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) long. Once the fairy tale eggplant seedlings are at least 8 (20 cm) tall and there is no risk of frost, you can repot the seedlings into the garden or a larger pot. Czech Republic, Shop Now. If possible, use a dripping system to water the eggplants - this will keep moisture levels rather constant, and actually, it will save plenty of water. Fairy Gardens - How To Make Your Garden Into A Fairy Sanctuary, Plants For Fairy Gardens: What Flowers To Plant To Attract Fairies, Common Eggplant Varieties: Learn About The Types Of Eggplant, Common Backyard Birds Of The Ohio Valley Region, Turn Off The Lights! Hingham, MA 02043 Barbados, Note: If You have a small garden, consider sowing 2-3 pots some 10 weeks before the danger of the last frost, 2-3 weeks later 2-3 pots more, and again, 2-3 weeks later 2-3 pots more. If they get too large, they'll lose the shine and begin to look dull. www.madaboutberries.com - All Rights Reserved - Disclaimer, Fairy Tale Eggplant: The Complete Guide From Seeds to Harvest, With Recipes, Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load of Common Berries and Other Foods, How to Grow and Care for San Marzano Tomatoes, Growing Everbearing and Summer Bearing Raspberries in Containers and Pots, How to Grow Watermelons in Containers, Flower Pots and Grow Bags | The Complete Guide. Fairy Tale Eggplants taste best when they are between 3-4 inches long and have bright, shiny skins. Note: one of the important goals of pruning is to ensure good aeration and sun exposure of the plants, leaves, flowers, and fruits. United Kingdom, The bright, shiny skins of Fairy Tale Eggplants make them taste better when they're between 3 to 4 inches long. Whether you have a habit of buying too many Fairy Tale eggplants like me or more rare varieties intimidate you, I have one, very special and extremely simple recipe for you. Republic of Korea, plants typically require more watering than those planted in ground. An eggplant has not won an AAS award since 1939, so Fairy Tale is truly an exceptional new variety. Great for containers Tender, plump and sweet, these luscious-looking mini marvels are little jewels of delicious creamy flavor. Recipe Recipe Ingredients Notes Fairy Tale Eggplants. Learn more about How to Grow Fairy Tale Eggplant and How to Grow Eggplants. Taiwan, He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible. Welcome to Harvest to Table. We promise never to sell, rent or disclose your email address to third parties. Not sure if crop is direct-seeded or transplanted? You should be able to harvest Fairy Tale eggplant 50 to 60 days after planting. Immediately toss them with a splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar, a sprinkle of flaked sea salt, and a small handful of freshly chopped mint. Greece, Wonderful flavor with no bitterness and very few seeds. You should also grow fairy tale eggplant in a pot because this plant is ideal for small spaces. harden by reducing water and temperature to 60 degrees F for one week before transplanting, use row covers for best success, to keep soil warm, and remove once plants blossom, clipping fruits encourages more production. Eggplants are very sensitive to cool temperatures. Bush Warm, Hot Annual Eggplant : Fairy Tale (Plant) Little jewels of delicious creamy flavor. Shop Now. currently in our role as science writers for TheGardenStyle.com as well as advisors in promoting large scale food growing in urbanized areas. Youll know exactly how to cook your small eggplants. Planting and Spacing. In a large bowl, toss the eggplant with about 2 tablespoons olive oil (enough to generously coat the eggplant), 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, pepper, (red pepper flakes also if you wish), and 4 to 6 large mint leaves, coarsely chopped; let stand to marinate for about 30 minutes. The fruits of the fairy tale eggplant are 4 (10 cm) long and the plant grows no more than 24 (61 cm) tall which makes this plant ideal for growing in containers. Roast the eggplants in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the eggplant is tender and the feta is golden brown in spots. To test eggplant fruit for maturity, press the fruit with your thumb; if the flesh springs back its green and not ripe; if your thumb leaves an indentation, the fruit is overripe; the best tasting eggplant will be in between. Click here to schedule a time to visit with us at theshow! Finland, Enjoy and see real photos on our website. At 55F, eggplants will keep for 1 to 2 weeks. Select a pot at least 2 It takes 45 days to harvest. On average, 100g of eggplant consists of the following: Also, they also contain some vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds. Remove all suckers, and prune the plant to 2-3 main stalks - some gardeners leave up to 4 stems and spread them evenly in all directions to use the space better. These little ones are great and you can get dozens and dozens and DOZENS of them in a small . Fairy Tale F1 Eggplant Seeds - Non-GMO - 10 Seeds, how and when to harvest fairy tale eggplant. Check the Growing Information box for details. feet (61 cm.) How to grow Fairy Tale eggplants in containers? The fruits of the fairy tale eggplant will be ready to be harvested after approximately 50 to 60 days. Read on to learn everything you need to know to grow healthy, beautiful eggplants! Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own gardenwith our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox. The number of days of fruit ripening may vary depending on the climatic conditions in which the plant develops. Learn more about how to measure soil pH. Also, as the mulch decomposes, it slowly feeds the plants and keeps the soil slightly acidic. dinner time, but when your eggplant variety produces magically ornamental Cod & Fairy Tale Eggplants with Tomatoes & Pearl Couscous, Summer Vegetable Tostadas with Fairy Tale Eggplant, Fresh Cavatelli & Spicy Corn with Eggplant, Make Easy Homemade Sprinkles With Molly Yeh, Strawberry-Lemonade Cocktail with Flower Ice Cubes, Reduce Your Food Waste By Upgrading Your Leftovers, The Nonstick Pan: An Essential Kitchen Tool. (I like also like listada de gandia, Japanese, and Turkish eggplant here when you cant procure the Fairy Tale variety. New miniature eggplants are white with violet/purple stripes. It is better to harvest eggplant just before its ripe than to wait too long. We want you, our customer, to be 100% satisfied with all of our seeds, tools, and supplies. So far the plant has stayed upright and hasn't needed staking. Eggplants are very difficult to pull away from the plant by hand; doing so can damage the plant. . Iceland, Portugal, I recommend you to read our other article about how and when to harvest fairy tale eggplant. Read more about our pollination tips here. This will give You 6-9 pots with Fairy Tale eggplants and a rather long harvesting season. Also, when the plants are grown in pots, containers, and grow bags, this allows the gardener to place them on the carts with wheels and move around as required, including indoors, when there is a danger of frost. Learn all about how to grow fairy tale eggplant in this article. Free Standard Shipping On Orders $50+ Just Launched: New Veggie Seed Kits! Solanum melongena, except where otherwise noted (S. gilo). Japan, You also want to make sure you're pollinating those blossoms when they start to appear. The plant itself is a dwarf, growing only 24 inches (61 cm.) Oman, Food Gardening Network and Food Gardening Magazine are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC. Fairy Tale eggplants need plenty of sunlight to thrive, so choose a location in your garden that gets at least 6-8 or even more hours of sunlight per day. If your soil is too heavy, you can improve it by adding some sand, peat moss, compost, worm castings, and other organic material - the soil must retain moisture and nutrients well, but it also must have good drainage. This product does not ship to the following countries: Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Saudi Arabia, Request a free copy of Johnnys latest catalog. Rinse the fruit clean, pat it dry with a kitchen towel, and place it in a perforated plastic bag to keep it from drying out. Harvesting eggplants includes cutting a short piece of stem above the calyx (cap) attached to the top of the fruit. After two to three weeks, you will see the little fairy tale eggplant seedlings. I replaced the Black Beauty with the Fairy Tale eggplant and roasted it (instead of fried) and added cherry tomatoes to highlight the peak of the summer harvest. See our Privacy Notice for what information we collect and your rights. If You can find NPK fertilizer with a gradual release, even better. So, clean and slice the Fairy Tale eggplant in 1/2 - 3/4 inch (~1.2-1.9 cm) slices, add just a little bit of salt, a drop of two of olive oil on each slice, and grill on the grill pan or barbecue. Growing fairy tale eggplant is very easy, and you dont need to have much space in your garden for this little plant. Thank you for stopping by! This traditional Italian type matures in just over 70 days and gets about 32 inches tall. Fairy Tale eggplant is considered one of the best-tasting eggplants. After a few minutes, flip them over, and after a few more minutes, they are done. you grew tomatoes, If the fairy tale eggplant develops too much, it will start to lose brightness and will have a more bitter taste. Practice lengthy crop rotation to avoid Verticillium wilt. tall. It develops quickly and gives a good production of eggplants. Long Purple Similar in color to the standard black beauty eggplant, 'Long Purple' - also known as 'Fingerling' or 'Long Purple Italian' - grows long and thin. Backfill with soil mix. Germany, callback: cb You can also train your plants to grow in a particular direction to use your space better. })(); Join our gardening family to receive the latest tips. In this quick video you can not only see how easy it is to harvest these little cuties but also watch me awkwardly talk about them self pollinating. Fairytale eggplant pasta uses these delicate, tiny eggplant to create a simple weeknight pasta dish that's elegant enough for entertaining. Bulgaria, Copyright 2023 The Garden Style - All rights reserved. You can unsubscribe at any time. We are experts in putting our hands in the soil and developing organic foods and improving production processes for decades. Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. Were tossing tender cavatelli with creamy mascarpone and a spicy-sweet duo of corn and fresno pepper. apart. The fairy tale eggplant is a variety of eggplant that is characterized by purple and white striped skin. Harvesting eggplants at their prime may take several days to a few weeks in succession, and frequent eggplant harvest promotes heavier yield of the fruit. San Marino, How to Grow Eggplant in Containers The most important factor to keep in mind when it comes to growing eggplants in containers is the size of the container. When choosing the location for eggplants, don't plant the eggplants in a location where you grew eggplants, tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers in the last 3-4 years - this will reduce the danger from soil-transmitted diseases. Get our best recipes, grocery finds, and clever kitchen tips delivered to your inbox. } Skin color and size of the fruit will also determine when the eggplant harvest should begin. A just ripe eggplant when sliced will have soft, well-formed but immature seeds; an immature and unripe eggplant will have no visible seeds; an overripe eggplant will have hard, dark seeds. The requirements will be the same as if you planted directly in the soil.