'Hansel', an early-maturing, small-fruited hybrid eggplant, won the All-America Selections vegetable award in 2008. A sturdy, compact plant (less than 3 feet), it is a natural for containers. The plant produces finger-length purple fruit in 55 days. If left on the plant, they continue to grow in size but remain tender and non-bitter. In AAS trials, 'Hansel' produced mature fruit about 10 days earlier than other eggplants.
Eggplants are heat-lovers, so don't rush to plant them in spring. Wait until soil has warmed to at least 60 F, with daytime temperatures above 70 F and nighttime temperatures above 45 F. To thrive, eggplants need full sun.
The National Garden Bureau has declared 2008 the Year of the Eggplant and offers a wealth of growing tips for many different varieties, including the classic 'Black Beauty' (80 days) and the hybrid 'Fairy Tale', a 2005 AAS winner that matures in 51 days. You can view NGB's eggplant-growing tips at www.ngb.org/gardening/fact_sheets.
AAS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.
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