VegetableEggplant
Morden Midget Eggplant
Morden Midget Eggplant is a compact, early-maturing variety bred for gardeners with short growing seasons and limited space. This open-pollinated heirloom reaches full maturity in just 60 to 69 days, making it one of the fastest eggplants you can grow. The plants stay bushy and manageable at 18 to 24 inches tall, producing small, delicate fruits that work beautifully in containers, raised beds, or garden plots. Hardy enough for zones 2 through 10, it thrives in full sun and rewards you with a harvest in roughly two months from transplant.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam; Rich Organic Matter
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-10
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
This diminutive eggplant was purpose-built for short seasons and tight spaces, earning its reputation as a practical choice for northern gardeners and container growers. The Morden Midget reaches maturity faster than nearly all other eggplant varieties, turning from seed to harvest in just over three months. Its compact, bushy habit means you can grow it in pots or small raised beds without the sprawling vines you'd expect from standard eggplants, making it genuinely space-efficient for gardeners working with limited room.
Common Uses
Morden Midget eggplant is grown primarily for fresh culinary use, where its small, tender fruits are ideal for roasting whole, grilling, or incorporating into stir-fries and vegetable medleys. The compact size makes individual fruits manageable for smaller households or those seeking portion control in the kitchen. Gardeners also grow it ornamentally in containers and garden displays, where the bushy plant and delicate purple-black fruits create visual appeal alongside its edible function.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for best germination. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge. Water gently to keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor light and temperature for 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Choose a location with full sun exposure.
Harvesting
Pick fruits when they reach 2 to 3 inches long and the skin is glossy and firm, typically 60 to 69 days after transplanting. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production; fruits grow quickly once they reach mature size. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut fruits from the stem rather than pulling them, which can damage branches. Fruits are best used fresh but can be stored in a cool place for a week or two.
Pruning
Minimal pruning is needed for this compact bush variety. Remove any dead, diseased, or damaged branches as they appear. If plants become overly dense, selectively prune lower leaves to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but avoid heavy pruning that stresses the plant during fruit production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum melongena
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
solanum
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“This variety emerged from the breeding programs at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's research station in Morden, Manitoba, where plant scientists developed it specifically to overcome the challenges of northern growing seasons. The short growing window of Canadian prairies demanded a cultivar that could mature quickly and reliably, and the Morden Midget was engineered to deliver exactly that. It has remained an open-pollinated, heirloom variety, meaning gardeners can save seeds year to year and maintain this practical, region-adapted plant in their own gardens.”