Japanese Long Purple
Solanum melongena 'Japanese Long Purple'
A stunning Japanese heirloom variety producing glossy, deep purple fruits that can reach 10 inches in length. The slender, curved eggplants have tender skin and mild, sweet flesh with minimal seeds, making them perfect for Asian cuisine. This productive plant delivers an abundant harvest of beautiful fruits that are as ornamental as they are delicious.
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 Purple in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 eggplant →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Japanese Long Purple · 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
Fresh Japanese Long Purple eggplants store best at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator crisper drawer wrapped in paper towels for up to one week. Avoid storing below 50°F, which causes chilling injury and bitter flavor development.
For longer preservation, slice eggplants into rounds, salt lightly to draw out moisture, then freeze on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags. This variety's mild flavor makes it excellent for pickling in rice vinegar with ginger and garlic, following traditional Japanese preservation methods. You can also roast slices until tender, then freeze in portions for adding to winter stews and curries.
Dehydrating works well for this thin-skinned variety—slice into strips and dry at 135°F until leathery for use in soups and broths. The high moisture content means proper preparation is essential for all preservation methods.
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
Marigold
Deters nematodes, whiteflies, and other harmful insects with strong scent
Peppers
Similar growing requirements and both benefit from same pest deterrents
Tomatoes
Share similar nutrient needs and growing conditions as fellow nightshades
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away
Catnip
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that commonly attack eggplant
Oregano
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and provides ground cover
Borage
Attracts beneficial insects and may improve growth and pest resistance
Keep Apart
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most vegetables including eggplant
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilt and stunted growth in nightshades
Corn
Competes for nutrients and attracts corn earworms that also damage eggplant
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, anthracnose, phomopsis blight