Long Purple
Solanum melongena 'Long Purple'
A classic heirloom variety that has been grown in American gardens since the 1800s, producing beautiful elongated purple fruits with excellent flavor. This reliable variety is known for its consistent production and traditional eggplant taste that's perfect for classic recipes. The fruits have tender flesh with a rich, satisfying flavor that develops beautifully when cooked.
Harvest
75-85d
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 Long Purple in USDA Zone 7
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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 Long Purple eggplants store best at room temperature for 2-3 days, maintaining their glossy appearance and firm texture. Avoid refrigeration unless absolutely necessary, as cold temperatures below 50°F cause chilling injury, leading to brown spots and bitter flavors.
For longer storage, wrap individual fruits in paper towels and refrigerate in the crisper drawer for up to one week. Use immediately once you notice any soft spots or wrinkling.
Freeze prepared eggplant by slicing into ½-inch rounds, blanching for 4 minutes, then cooling in ice water before packaging in freezer bags. Frozen eggplant works perfectly in cooked dishes like ratatouille or eggplant parmesan.
Preserve by grilling or roasting slices until tender, then freezing in portions for winter cooking. You can also pickle small, young fruits whole in vinegar brine, creating traditional Italian-style preserved eggplant that keeps for months in the refrigerator.
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 and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing requirements and pest management strategies
Peppers
Fellow nightshades with compatible growing conditions and pest resistance
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and various insect pests through natural compounds
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for nutrients
Hot Peppers
Deter browsing animals and share similar water/soil needs
Oregano
Repels spider mites and provides ground cover
Keep Apart
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to nightshade family plants
Beans
Heavy nitrogen fixation can cause excessive foliage growth at expense of 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
Typical heirloom disease tolerance, susceptible to bacterial and fungal diseases
Common Pests
Flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, hornworms
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, early blight, late blight