Eggplants from China tend to be elongated and deeply purple with glossy skin. They are excellent in stir fry and soup. They are quite easy to grow as long as they receive plenty of sun and heat. This article will provide information on how to grow Chinese eggplants and use them once harvested.
Chinese Eggplant Information
Although there may be more, a quick web search turned up 12 types of Chinese eggplant. It is said that the name comes from Europeans who saw white orbs growing in the ground in India, and likened them to eggs. The Chinese cultivars couldn’t be more different with striking color and narrow bodies. The earliest domestic recordings of Chinese eggplants described them as small, round, green fruits. Centuries of cultivation have changed the shape, size, skin color and even the prickliness of the stems, leaves and fruit that wild plants boasted. In fact, today’s eggplant is a smooth, narrow fruit with creamy flesh. It has a decidedly sweet flavor and semi-firm texture. Eggplants from China seem to all have been developed for the tubular shape. Early Chinese writings document the change from wild, green, round fruit to large, long, purple skinned fruit. This process is well documented in the Tong Yue, a 59 BC writing by Wang Bao.
Types of Chinese Eggplant
There are many hybrids of the typical Chinese breeds. While most are the purple hues, a few have almost blue, white or even black skin. Some commonly available Chinese eggplant varieties include:
Purple Excel – A high yield variety
HK Long – An extra long, tender purple type
Bride – Purple and white, tubular but quite chubby
Purple Charm – Brightly violet
Ma-Zu Purple – Slender fruits, almost black in color
Ping Tung Long – Straight fruits, very tender, bright pink skin
Purple Shine – As the name suggests, glossy purple skin
Hybrid Asia Beauty – Deeply purple, tender, sweet flesh
Hybrid Long White Angle – Creamy skin and flesh
Fengyuan Purple – A classic Chinese fruit
Machiaw – Huge fruits, very thick and light lavender skin
How to Grow Chinese Eggplants
Eggplants need fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.2-6.8. Sow seeds indoors in flats 6-8 weeks before the date of the last frost. The soil must be kept warm to ensure germination. Thin plants after 2-3 true leaves have formed. Transplant them out after the date of the last frost and when the soil has warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 C.). Use row covers to prevent flea beetles and other pests, but remove them when flowers are observed. Some varieties will require staking. Clip off the fruit regularly to promote the set of more flowers and fruit.
