15 best varieties of eggplants that you will fall in love with: a detailed description of the blue ones

General characteristics of eggplants

Once upon a time, eggplants were distinguished by an unusual blue-violet skin color, for which they received the popular title of blue ones. In modern days, the appearance of eggplants has changed significantly: all sorts of shades of purple, white and even purple with white shading have appeared. The shape has also become varied: drop-shaped, round, spherical and cylindrical, as well as large and very small fruits, the size of a medium-sized apple.

Selection has also worked on the ripening period of vegetables; varieties have been developed that ripen in the middle zone in July, and not in September, as was previously the case and made it impossible to grow eggplants in regions with short summers and early frosts.

True, with a slight adjustment to the fact that eggplants are still a southern vegetable, and even the most successful modern varieties need to be given space in the greenhouse for a full harvest. In this article I will tell you what the best varieties of eggplant are to grow, which will give you joy, unforgettable emotions and an excellent harvest.

The best varieties of eggplants for open ground and greenhouses

Lolita

One of my favorite, albeit long-standing varieties. I like it for its excellent yield and early fruiting. Regardless of the appearance of new varieties, I plant Lolita every year because it does not fail. Even in the coldest and wettest summer, the variety sets fruit, and I am never without a harvest.

The fruits are dark blue-violet in color with a pleasant gloss, elongated, and have a familiar shape. The weight of the fruit is from 200 to 300 grams, up to 25 cm long. The taste is good, almost without bitterness. A medium-sized bush, a little more than a meter high in closed ground.

The first fruits are formed 3.5 months after the appearance of the first shoots. The variety is also relatively resistant to rot, which has become common even in greenhouse conditions in cool years.

Eggplant variety Annette

The early hybrid, which was bred about 20 years ago by Dutch breeders, is distinguished by its early harvest: the fruits are tasted within 70 days of germination. Suitable for the northernmost gardens, provided they are grown indoors, be it a greenhouse or a bed under covering material.

This is a rare hybrid that can boast such an early harvest, which is why gardeners love it. The fruits are dark in color, pear-shaped, about 250 grams. The bushes are productive, about a meter high, spreading. At a young age, the fruits have a delicate taste; if left on the bush, they acquire a bitter taste.

Bibo

Eggplant with white fruits, ripens in 110–120 days. The fruits are elongated with thickening at the bottom, white in color, matte, weighing 180–250 grams. The bush is about 120 cm high, branched, the removal of stepsons is required to form a full-fledged harvest. It is distinguished by the absence of thorns on the trunk and leaves; staking of the main trunk is required. No more than five fruits are left on the bush so that they have time to ripen. The taste is pleasant, even when ripe, without a hint of bitterness.

Eggplant variety Big Uvalen

An outstanding hybrid of Siberian selection, suitable for cultivation even in the third zone in a greenhouse. They have large “puffed up” fruits of a dark purple tone with barely visible speckled shading. Its appetizing fruit-balls cause delight, and its delicate taste and small amount of grains instantly turn it into a favorite among vegetables.

The bush is low, about 80 cm, medium branched, the harvest ripens in 130 days. Each fruit weighs about 600 grams; from 6 to 10 fruits are formed on the bush, depending on conditions.

Nutcracker

One of the early purple eggplants that produces its first fruits on the hundredth day after sprouting. The pear-shaped fruits, weighing from 400 to 600 grams, are “inflated” and are characterized by excellent transportability. There are almost no seeds in the fruits, the taste is excellent, the fruits are without voids. Bushes up to one and a half meters in height, with thorns. The hybrid is productive, resistant to bad weather and prolonged rains.

Eggplant variety Mushroom flavor

Mushroom connoisseurs will like it. A popular variety among gardeners with snow-white matte fruits weighing from 300 to 600 grams. The fruits have a familiar shape, are distinguished by thin skin and an appetizing aroma, without bitterness. The variety is very productive. Resistant to diseases and unimportant climatic conditions. Belongs to early varieties, fruits form in one hundred days. It is necessary to tie it up after planting and remove the stepsons.

Samurai

Perhaps one of the most spectacular varieties: its fruits are elongated, cylindrical, almost do not thicken at the bottom, look perfect, and the shiny skin makes them even more interesting. Each eggplant weighs about 200 grams with excellent taste, without a hint of bitterness, just begging to be served on the table; the variety is also good in preparations. Ripens in 120–130 days and is disease resistant. The bush is of medium height, up to a meter, not too spreading.

Eggplant variety Ping Pong

This hybrid was one of the first among unusual vegetables. About 20 years ago, he created a real sensation in the gardens and looked like a kind of foreign handsome man against the background of his purple brothers. The hybrid lives up to its name, forming small snow-white but numerous oval-shaped fruits, like balls, weighing about 90 grams.

Among the advantages is the height: the bush is up to 60 cm, it is preferable to plant it on the south side so that it is not shaded by others, it is compact and spectacular. You can also grow it as a potted crop on the balcony, or in pots, placing them in the barbecue area.

Sailor

Lovers of exotic and unusual-looking vegetables will like it. The fruits are bright lilac in color with clear white shading, pear-shaped, weighing up to 400 grams. The plants are strong, not too spreading, however, it is still necessary to take care of support, up to 80 cm in height. The variety has a medium ripening period, the flesh is snow-white. The fruits are glossy, without voids, tasty, universally prepared. It works well in greenhouse conditions, in the southern regions – in open ground.

Green

Another favorite for lovers of unusual appearance in familiar vegetables. The fruits are elongated, one might say “slender”, without thickening, light green, weighing about 200 grams each, the taste is excellent. Average ripening period: after 120 days, first fruits, low bushes, up to 80 cm. Requires staking and timely removal of shoots. Resistant to diseases.

Thai green eggplant variety

A truly Thai variety of eggplant, very exotic in appearance. The fruits are round, weighing about 100 grams, shaped like an apple with barely noticeable white shading. Late ripening, after 130 days or more the first fruits will appear.

It works better in the southern regions, however, subject to hot summers, it will also work in northern gardens in greenhouse conditions. The bush is about a meter high, not too spreading.

Albatross

One of the oldest Russian varieties with an average ripening period: after 120–130 days it pleases with the first fruits. It has average disease resistance and is more suitable for southern regions. The fruits are oval, slightly elongated, glossy, with a subtle bitterness when fully ripe. It is valued for the fact that it retains its taste for a long time and almost does not overripe.

Sancho Panza

It has round spherical fruits of a dark purple, almost black tone. A bush slightly more than a meter high, lightly leafy with large fruits weighing about 500–600 grams; under the most favorable conditions it is possible to grow fruits weighing up to 1 kg. The average ripening period is about 130 days.

King in the North

One of the most promising eggplants for owners of northern gardens. After 90–100 days, the first fruits appear, elongated, slightly curved downwards, reminiscent of sabers. The length of the fruit is fantastic – from 30 centimeters, they look impressive and unusual. A bush up to a meter high, of medium thickness, the plant is very productive.

A gardener’s dream

Belongs to early varieties, forms fruits in a record 85–90 days. Bush up to 80 cm tall, relatively compact. The fruits are dark purple in color, glossy, plump, weighing 400–600 grams. Relatively resistant to diseases, does not respond to sudden temperature fluctuations, but in case of frost it is necessary to cover.

Features of growing eggplants

We share the secrets of a good harvest of eggplants of any variety.

• Gardeners are often offended by the lack of fruits during significant flowering. The fact is that growing eggplants has one secret: the flower must be in the sun, then the fruit will certainly set. If a flower is shaded from the sun by a leaf, support, or neighboring plant, the ovary will not form, so during flowering, those leaves that block the flower from direct sunlight are cut off. By applying this secret, you will achieve an excellent harvest in any conditions.

• There is one more secret: when you choose a place to plant eggplants, place them in the central bed in the greenhouse next to the door. Eggplants are susceptible to attack by pests, especially spider mites. The more comfortable the corner in which they grow, the less airy it is, the more actively the pest multiplies. For this reason, eggplants are not planted in the corner of the greenhouse. In order to additionally humidify the air, reducing the conditions comfortable for tick reproduction, place containers of water between the eggplant bushes. In hot weather, water eggplants directly over the leaves from a watering can with a strainer.
• For a full harvest, all the stepsons of eggplants are removed; some varieties form them at the same speed as tomatoes. Throughout the growing season, eggplants form stepsons in each internode, starting from the lowest, several times. If you leave the stepsons, you won’t get a harvest; all your energy will be spent on new shoots.
• However, it happens that as a result of cold nights and rains, plants begin to hurt, and rot appears on the shoots. They are removed and when favorable weather arrives, a couple of stepsons are left, from which the plant is formed anew, even if the top had to be removed.