Ping Tung Long
Solanum melongena 'Ping Tung Long'
This Taiwanese heirloom produces stunning 12-inch long, slender purple fruits that are incredibly tender and sweet with no bitterness. The beautiful lavender flowers and prolific production make it both an ornamental and culinary treasure. Perfect for Asian cuisine, it maintains its silky texture even when fully mature.
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 Ping Tung Long in USDA Zone 7
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Ping Tung 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
Fresh Ping Tung Long eggplants store best at room temperature for 3-4 days, developing a bitter flavor if refrigerated too quickly. For longer storage, keep in the refrigerator crisper drawer wrapped in paper towels for up to one week—plastic bags cause moisture buildup and rapid deterioration.
For preservation, slice and salt eggplant for 30 minutes to remove excess moisture before freezing. Blanch slices in boiling water for 4 minutes, cool in ice water, then freeze in portions. The tender texture makes this variety excellent for grilling and freezing as prepared dishes.
Dehydrate thin slices at 135°F for 8-12 hours to create eggplant chips, or pickle in rice vinegar with Asian seasonings. Due to their mild flavor and tender skin, these eggplants excel in fermented preparations and maintain texture better than larger globe varieties when preserved.
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, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Peppers
Share similar growing conditions and pest management strategies
Tomatoes
Compatible nightshade family members with similar care requirements
Oregano
Repels spider mites, aphids, and other common eggplant pests
Thyme
Attracts beneficial insects and deters flea beetles and hornworms
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Catnip
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that commonly attack eggplant
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts nightshade family growth
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit eggplant growth and development
Corn
Competes for nutrients and attracts corn earworm which also damages eggplant
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, resistant to tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Flea beetles, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, phomopsis blight