Botanical Name: Solanum melongena
Days to Maturity: 75–90 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
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.
Plant Dimensions: 14"–20" tall
Variety Information: Smooth, 5"–8" oval fruits are purple and white streaked with an off-white interior. Skin is very thin.
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: ¼"
Seed Spacing: Start indoors
Row Spacing: 36"
Thinning: Start indoors; plant 18" apart outside
Harvesting: 'Listada de Gandia' should be harvested when the fruit is 5"-8" long and the skin is still shiny. If you are in doubt about maturity level, note that itÆs better to harvest eggplants a little young rather than wait until they are overly mature with dull skin, plentiful dark seeds, and bitter taste. To harvest, cut the stem with pruners. Continual harvest will encourage more production.
