VegetableEggplant
Konasu Eggplant
Konasu Eggplant is a charming heirloom variety that produces petite, jewel-like fruits perfect for home gardeners seeking something beyond standard purple eggplants. These bite-sized eggplants mature in just 60-69 days after transplant, with shiny dark purple skin that gleams almost like onyx, capped by a matching purplish-black calyx. The compact plants grow 30-36 inches tall in an upright bush form and thrive in warm climates across hardiness zones 2-13, making them accessible to nearly all gardeners willing to give them heat and full sun.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Rich Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
These tiny, rounded eggplants hide creamy white flesh beneath their satiny dark purple skin, offering a striking visual contrast when cut open. Konasu grows as a tidy upright bush that doesn't sprawl, making it surprisingly efficient in both garden beds and containers. The plants mature quickly enough that even gardeners in cooler zones can coax a full harvest by starting seeds indoors and transplanting after the last frost. Non-GMO and heirloom-bred, it's a variety worth saving seeds from year to year.
Common Uses
Konasu's bite-sized fruits are perfect for roasting whole, adding to vegetable platters, or using in dishes where you want eggplant flavor without the bulk of a full-sized fruit. The small, tender fruits are ideal for stir-fries, grilling halved, or even pickling. Home gardeners often appreciate these for their visual appeal in fresh arrangements or as ornamental edibles that produce abundantly without demanding garden space.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost in warm soil (70-75°F). Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix and keep the soil warm and consistently moist until seedlings emerge in 7-14 days. Provide bright light once sprouted. Transplant to larger containers if seedlings become crowded before hardening off.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant outside only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60-65°F, typically in late spring. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart. Bury the transplant slightly deeper than it grew in its pot to encourage a stronger root system.
Harvesting
Pick Konasu eggplants when they reach full size but while the skin still has a glossy sheen and yields slightly to gentle pressure. The fruits should be firm yet tender, typically 2-3 inches in diameter depending on how mature you prefer them. Harvest regularly once fruits reach usable size to encourage continued production throughout the season. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the fruit from the stem rather than tugging, which can damage the plant.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum melongena ‘Konasu’
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
solanum
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Konasu is an heirloom eggplant variety with Japanese origins, though detailed information about its specific development and preservation journey is limited in available sources. It has been maintained and shared through seed catalogs and home gardeners who value its diminutive size and reliable performance. Like many Asian eggplant varieties that found their way into Western seed catalogs, Konasu represents a bridge between regional agricultural traditions and the growing interest in heritage vegetable diversity among contemporary growers.”