VegetableEggplant
Gretel Eggplant
Gretel is a miniature marvel that earned its All-America Selections award in 2005 for good reason. These petite eggplants ripen quickly in just 50-59 days, producing elegant white fruits with striking violet-purple stripes that remain tender and non-bitter from 1-2 ounces all the way up to 4 ounces. The compact plants reach just 2½ feet tall and wide, making them perfect for container gardening while thriving across zones 2-13.
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
42 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
42in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
This AAS-winning hybrid transforms the eggplant experience with its miniature scale and exceptional quality. The elongated, oval fruits develop beautiful white skin decorated with purple stripes, offering tender flesh with remarkably few seeds. Unlike many eggplants that become bitter as they mature, Gretel maintains its sweet, mild character whether harvested young at cocktail size or left to develop into full-sized portions. The compact, bushy plants adapt beautifully to container culture while producing abundantly.
Common Uses
These miniature eggplants excel in applications where tender skin and mild flavor matter most. Their small size makes them perfect for grilling whole, stuffing with savory fillings, or slicing into elegant rounds for appetizers and small plates. The non-bitter flesh requires no salting and cooks quickly, while the striking striped appearance adds visual appeal to dishes.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Plant 4 seeds per inch at ¼ inch deep in flats or seed starting trays. Maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F until germination, then reduce to 70°F. Seeds will not germinate in cool soil.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors in late spring or early summer once soil temperature reaches at least 55°F and all danger of frost has passed. Harden off plants by reducing water and temperature to 60°F for about a week before transplanting. Space transplants 18 inches apart in rows 30-36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest when fruits are glossy and have reached desired size, from 1-2 ounces for baby eggplants up to 4 ounces for full size. Cut the stem with sharp shears rather than pulling. Pick fruits regularly at your preferred size to encourage continued production throughout the season.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum melongena
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
solanum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“Gretel earned recognition as an All-America Selections Winner in 2005, marking it as a standout performer that impressed trial gardens across North America with its unique combination of compact growth, early maturity, and exceptional fruit quality.”