Japanese Long
Solanum melongena 'Japanese Long'
An elegant Asian variety producing slender, foot-long fruits with incredibly tender skin that never needs peeling. The sweet, mild flesh has virtually no bitterness and cooks quickly, making it perfect for stir-fries and Asian cuisine. This productive variety offers a completely different eggplant experience from traditional globe types.
Harvest
70-80d
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 Japanese Long in USDA Zone 7
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Japanese Long · 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 | — | August – 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 Japanese Long eggplants at room temperature for up to 5 days—refrigeration causes the tender skin to pit and the flesh to become bitter. If you must refrigerate, wrap individual fruits in paper towels and use within 3-4 days. These thin-skinned eggplants don't store as long as thick-skinned globe varieties.
For preservation, slice into rounds and salt for 30 minutes to draw out moisture, then freeze in single layers on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags—frozen slices work perfectly for stir-fries and curries. Japanese Long eggplants also excel when pickled using traditional Asian brining methods with rice vinegar and miso. Avoid canning due to their low acidity, but they dry beautifully when cut into thin strips and dehydrated at 135°F for 8-10 hours, creating concentrated strips perfect for reconstituting in soups and stews.
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 requirements and pest management strategies as nightshade family members
Peppers
Compatible nightshades that benefit from similar soil conditions and watering schedules
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from eggplant
Oregano
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites with its strong aromatic compounds
Hot Peppers
Natural pest deterrent that repels many insects harmful to eggplant
Catnip
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that commonly attack eggplant
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts or kills nightshade family plants
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most vegetables including eggplant
Corn
Creates excessive shade and competes for nutrients, reducing eggplant fruit production
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169228)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to common fungal diseases
Common Pests
Flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, thrips
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt