Striped Toga Eggplant doesn’t bare much of a resemblance to the eggplants we are accustomed to, It looks like some sort of strange exotic fruit – till you cut it open and see that its beauty is only skin deep.
The eggplants are borne in small clusters on a 3 – 4 foot bushy perennial plant. They are perennials but are commonly grown as annuals. They are edible but are frequently grown as ornamental.
The fruits are small – 1″ wide by 3″ long and have lots of seeds which contributes to their strong taste. They serve as attractive eye candy in any garden scenario, they start green and as they progress will morph to yellow followed by gradually deepening shades of orange with stripes of green.
Start seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before planting outdoors.
Maturity at 65 – 75 days from transplant.
Color -Yellow – Orange / Green Stripes
Average Plant Height – 3 – 4 ft.
Spacing – 18″-24″
USDA Hardiness Zones 5 – 11
Germination 12 – 14 days.
Fruit Size 3″ Long X 1″ Round
Full Sun
Slightly Above Average Yields By Weight
Average Yields – each Plant should produce anywhere from 2 – 5 Eggplants.
Poorly watered plants will frequently produce bitter tasting eggplants, adequate moisture is essential.
Eggplant grows best in a well-drained sandy loam or loam soil, fairly high in organic matter. Start early indoors in peat pots or cell packs
Rows should be 3 to 5 ft. apart. Plants should be 2 to 3 ft. apart. Transplants should be about 6 weeks old and slightly hardened, grown in 2 inch. or larger pots.
All eggplant varieties are highly susceptible to flea beetle attack particularly early in the season. Aphids also attack these plants and come later in the season. Varieties of Aphids that attack eggplants are generally either a light blue-green or amber, sometimes black.
Harvest Tip
Its flavor and color are actually more desirable when harvested before full maturity. When it approaches its full 10 – 12″ length the color darkens and it looses a wee bit of its mild taste. Harvesting early will also encourage new growth.
Hardening Off
The outdoor environment can be very harsh for a transplant. So, harden the transplants before planting outdoors to increase their survival rate. Place them outdoors in their original containers where they will receive direct sunlight and some wind for a few hours each day for a week, possibly more. Gradually lengthen the amount of time outside each day. Move the plants inside at night.