- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 80 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae, Nightshade family, includes tomatoes, potatoes, petunias, nicotiana, Chinese lantern, and eggplant.
Native: Asia
Hardiness: Perennial in tropical climates; grown as annual in climates other than those that are frost-free and very warm; very frost sensitive.
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 22" tall, 18" wide
Variety Info: 4 ½" long, 2" wide, 3 ounce fruit with smooth, shiny, purple skin and a creamy, white interior.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil temperature is at least 70°F, ideally 80°‒90°F, and when outside night air temperature is above 60°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date. Transplant outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after last frost, when soil temperature is at least 60°F, and outside night air temperature is above 60°F.
Days to Emerge: 10 – 20 days
Seed Depth: 1/4"
Seed Spacing: Start Indoors
Row Spacing: 36"
Thinning: Start indoors; plant 18" apart outside
Growing Info
Harvesting: Jewel Amethyst' should be harvested when the fruit is 3"–4 ½" long and the skin is still shiny. If you are in doubt about maturity level, note that it’s better to harvest eggplants a little young rather than wait until they are overly mature with dull skin, eventually possibly turning a golden color, with plentiful seeds, and bitter taste. To harvest, cut the stem with pruners. Continual harvest will encourage more production.
Special Care: In areas where cool soil is a concern, growing eggplant in dark-colored containers or using black plastic mulch will warms the soil. The best method of watering when using plastic mulch is drip irrigation, or a soaker hose underneath the plastic.
