Asian Eggplant
Ping Tung Long is an Asian-style eggplant that thrives where most gardeners struggle, in heat and challenging conditions. Producing slender, deep purple fruits stretching 12 to 18 inches long, this variety matures in just 65 days from transplant and delivers tender skin you never need to peel, a mild flavor free from bitterness, and remarkable productivity. It's the eggplant for gardeners who want something genuinely different from the chunky globe types, and for those gardening in hot, dry climates where most vegetables wilt.
Full Sun
High
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Ping Tung Long apart is its heat-loving nature and surprising drought tolerance for an eggplant, a plant that most gardeners assume drinks constantly. The fruits are strikingly slender and elegant, with beautifully bright purple skin so tender that peeling is unnecessary. Its mild flavor and lack of bitterness mean you can cook it simply without elaborate preparation, and the plant rewards frequent harvesting with relentless production throughout the season.
This variety excels in Asian cooking preparations where tender skin and mild flavor are assets rather than liabilities. The narrow, elongated fruit works beautifully sliced lengthwise and grilled, stir-fried in quick, high-heat applications, or pickled whole thanks to its Japanese pickling heritage. Because the skin requires no removal, it's ideal for any recipe where you want the fruit's texture and color to remain front and center, from simple sautés to more complex vegetable dishes.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed thoroughly, spacing plants 12 inches apart in rows 2 inches apart. These heat-loving plants thrive when conditions are warm and settled.
Harvest when the skin is still smooth and shiny and the fruit remains firm, using sharp shears to avoid damaging the plant. Check plants frequently, every 2 to 3 days, during peak harvest season to catch fruit at peak quality. Over-mature eggplants become soft and the seeds begin to darken, timing matters. The 12- to 18-inch length provides a clear visual guide for when fruits have reached good size for harvesting.
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