Black Beauty
Solanum melongena 'Black Beauty'
The classic American eggplant that has been a garden staple since 1902, beloved for its reliability and perfect teardrop shape. This productive heirloom produces glossy, deep purple fruits with tender, mild flesh that's ideal for all your favorite eggplant dishes. A must-have variety that delivers consistent results even for beginning gardeners.
Harvest
80-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Zones
9–12
USDA hardiness
Height
2-4 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Black Beauty in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 eggplant →Zone Map
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Black Beauty · Zones 9–12
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in., Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed.
Harvesting
The fruit is a berry that is egg-shaped, smooth and has glossy skin. The fruit may measure 4 to 8 inches long. It ranges in color from green to white, to purple-black when immature and when it should be eaten. As the fruit matures it gets stringy and bitter. Fruit contains numerous small, flat, pale yellow to brown seeds.
Color: Vegetable Garden at Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The immature fruit is edible and best used in food preparation. As the fruit matures, it becomes stringy and bitter. The fruits are usually cooked and served as a vegetable. They may be prepared and eaten by frying, steaming, grilling, roasting, or stewing. They may also be stir-fried, pickled, stuffed, and fried with a light breading.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Black Beauty eggplants at room temperature for 2-3 days maximum, as they're sensitive to cold and will develop brown spots and bitter flavors if refrigerated immediately. For longer storage, place in the vegetable crisper drawer at 50-54°F with high humidity, where they'll keep for up to one week.
For preservation, blanch cubed eggplant in boiling water for 4 minutes, then freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 8 months—perfect for adding to winter stews and casseroles. Alternatively, slice and salt eggplant rounds for 30 minutes to draw out moisture, then roast until tender and freeze in single layers. The creamy texture of Black Beauty also makes it excellent for making and freezing baba ganoush or caponata. Avoid canning fresh eggplant, as it becomes mushy, but pickled eggplant preserves well using a tested recipe with proper acidity levels.
History & Origin
Origin: Vegetable Garden at Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden Vegetable Garden with Pollinator Plants in Mt. Pleasant
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Heat
- +Attracts: Bees
- +Wildlife value: The flowers attract bumblebees.
- +Edible: The immature fruit is edible and best used in food preparation. As the fruit matures, it becomes stringy and bitter. The fruits are usually cooked and served as a vegetable. They may be prepared and eaten by frying, steaming, grilling, roasting, or stewing. They may also be stir-fried, pickled, stuffed, and fried with a light breading.
Considerations
- -Toxic (Flowers, Leaves, Roots, Stems): High severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing conditions and can confuse pests that target nightshades
Peppers
Compatible nightshade family members with similar soil and water requirements
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and flea beetles that commonly attack eggplants
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from eggplants
Oregano
Repels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Hot Peppers
Deter larger pests like rabbits and deer from eating eggplant leaves
Catnip
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that damage eggplant foliage
Keep Apart
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit eggplant growth and development
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in eggplants
Pole Beans
Can climb and shade eggplants, reducing their heat and sunlight requirements
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169228)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common eggplant diseases
Common Pests
Flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, phomopsis blight, early blight