Japanese Purple Pickling
Solanum melongena 'Japanese Purple Pickling'
A productive Japanese heirloom that produces slender, glossy purple fruits perfect for Asian cuisine and pickling. The tender, mild flesh has virtually no bitterness and cooks quickly, making it ideal for stir-fries, tempura, and traditional Japanese preparations. This reliable variety is beloved by home gardeners for its consistent production and exceptional eating quality.
Harvest
65-75d
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 Purple Pickling in USDA Zone 7
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Japanese Purple Pickling · 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
Fresh Japanese Purple Pickling eggplants store best at room temperature for 2-3 days, maintaining optimal texture for immediate use in stir-fries and tempura. For longer storage, refrigerate unwashed fruits in a perforated plastic bag for up to one week, though the skin may develop brown spots in cold storage.
For preservation, these eggplants excel at traditional Japanese pickling methods — slice thinly and salt-cure for quick pickles, or ferment in rice bran for authentic tsukemono. Their tender flesh also freezes well when blanched for 4 minutes and packed in freezer bags, though texture becomes softer upon thawing, making frozen eggplant ideal for cooked dishes rather than fresh preparations.
Dehydrating works exceptionally well due to their low moisture content — slice into ¼-inch rounds and dry at 135°F for 8-12 hours until leathery. Properly dried slices store for months and rehydrate beautifully 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 thrips while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, whiteflies, and other harmful insects through natural compounds
Peppers
Share similar growing requirements and don't compete for resources
Tomatoes
Compatible nightshade family members with similar soil and care needs
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs
Oregano
Deters aphids, spider mites, and cabbage moths with strong aromatic oils
Hot Peppers
Natural pest deterrent and shares similar growing conditions
Catnip
Repels ants, aphids, and flea beetles more effectively than many commercial repellents
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
Brassicas
Compete for nutrients and may stunt eggplant growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169228)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease tolerance, moderate resistance to bacterial wilt
Common Pests
Flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, Colorado potato beetle
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, early blight, mosaic virus