Standard Eggplant
Diamond Eggplant is a prolific annual eggplant that delivers abundant harvests of glossy, deep purple fruits with surprising green flesh inside. Ready to pick in just 70 to 75 days, each plant generates 4 to 6 full-sized fruits, making it a rewarding choice for gardeners who want genuine abundance from a single plant. The variety thrives in full sun and adapts beautifully to container growing, so whether you're working with a sprawling garden bed or a sunny patio, you can grow this eggplant successfully.
Full Sun
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Perennial
High
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The real story here is the flesh: while the skin deepens to that rich purple hue that catches the eye, inside you'll find green rather than the typical cream or white interior. Each plant reliably produces multiple fruits that reach about 9 inches long, and harvesting at this peak size ensures you get the least bitter flavor possible. It's a variety bred for productivity and quality fruit over a long season.
Diamond Eggplant is grown for fresh culinary use, harvested at the ideal 9-inch length when the fruit is firm and the flavor is at its sweetest. The green flesh holds up well to roasting, grilling, and stir-frying, making it suitable for a range of preparations from Mediterranean to Asian cuisines.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil, maintaining temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination, which typically takes 7 to 14 days. Keep seedlings under bright light once they emerge, and provide bottom heat if possible to maintain warm soil temperatures.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally 70 degrees or warmer. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in garden beds or one plant per 5-gallon container.
Harvest Diamond Eggplant when fruits reach approximately 9 inches in length, which typically occurs 70 to 75 days after transplanting. At this size, the skin will be deeply purple and glossy, and the fruit will feel firm to gentle pressure. Use a sharp knife or pruning shears to cut the fruit from the stem, leaving a short stub attached to the plant. Harvesting at this peak length ensures the least bitter flavor and encourages the plant to continue setting new fruit throughout the season. Check plants every 2 to 3 days during peak production to catch fruits at their ideal size.
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