Calliope
Solanum melongena
Calliope is a beautiful, oval, Indian eggplant. Suitable for baby (2" long x 1 1/2" diameter) or mature (3-4" long x 2 1/4-2 3/4" diameter) harvest. High-yielding, even in the North. The plants and calyxes are spineless, unlike many varieties of this type. Green calyx.
Harvest
64d
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 Calliope in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 eggplant →Zone Map
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Calliope · Zones 9–12
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| 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 fresh Calliope eggplants at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate in the crisper drawer for 7-10 days. Wrap individual fruits in paper towels to absorb excess moisture and prevent skin wrinkling. Never store eggplants below 50°F, as cold temperatures cause chilling injury and bitter flavors.
For longer preservation, slice Calliope eggplants into rounds, salt lightly, and freeze on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags. The mild, creamy flesh holds up exceptionally well to freezing. Alternatively, cube and roast the eggplant before freezing for easy addition to winter stews and casseroles.
Pickle small, early-harvest Calliope eggplants whole using a standard vegetable brine, or char and puree the flesh for homemade baba ganoush that freezes beautifully for up to 6 months.
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
Similar growing requirements and pest management, can share space efficiently
Peppers
Fellow nightshades with compatible growing needs and mutual pest deterrence
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and flea beetles while attracting beneficial insects
Oregano
Deters aphids, spider mites, and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil to benefit heavy-feeding eggplants
Catnip
Repels flea beetles, aphids, and ants that can damage eggplant
Keep Apart
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most vegetables including eggplant
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and death in nightshade family plants
Sunflowers
Compete aggressively for nutrients and water, can stunt eggplant growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169228)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease resistance including verticillium wilt and bacterial wilt
Common Pests
Flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases
Generally disease resistant, occasional issues with late blight in humid conditions