60 days maturity after transplanting. Solanum melongena ’Kurume Long’. Kurume Long Eggplant Seeds. Non-GMO, warm-season, annual, hybrid. This popular open-pollinated Japanese variety has excellent fruit quality. Shiny, black fruits have a purple calyx and mature to 9-10 inches long with a mild, delicate flavor. Very vigorous and good for open field growing and home gardens. The plant is upright and grows well in warm climates. Eggplants are useful companion plants to a variety of other vegetables. Approximately 6,500 seeds per oz.

Other Common Names: Aubergine, badanjan, baingan, baingun, bangai, bangain, bhanta, brinjal, ca tim, chan che zu, chieh tse, hon pee choi, Japanese eggplant, mackhera, makhua terung, ma khuea yaao, nasubi, ngai kwa, qie zi, talong, terong, terung, wam batu.

How to Grow Kurume Long Eggplant

Germinate seeds indoors 1.5 months before the predicted last date of frost or 2 months before the desired transplant date. Keep the soil temperature around 80°F until the sprouts emerge. Seeds will not germinate in cold soil; transplanting out too early in the spring can negatively impact plant vigor. Harden off the plants before transplanting to avoid shock. Work organic fertilizer into the growing soil before planting the seedlings; transplant them when the soil temperatures are a minimum of 75°F. They should be in a warm and sunlit location.

Eggplants demand a balanced fertilizer. Fertilizers with high nitrogen levels will encourage more foliage instead of fruit. Support the plants to stop them from falling over as the fruit matures. Fertilize two or three times throughout the season. If growing in a cooler climate, cover the soil with dark, opaque plastic to maintain soil heat. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.

Harvesting Kurume Long Eggplant

Harvest when purple, 9-10 inches long, and lustrous. If the flesh indents with a bit of pressure and then rebounds, it’s ripe. If the skin is no longer shiny, it is overripe.

Culinary Tips

Kurume Long is exemplary for stir-fries, braising, steaming, deep-frying, baking, pickling, or preparing tempura-style. European eggplants usually need to be pretreated for bitterness. Asian eggplants are less bitter and do not require such preparations.

Tips From Our Gardeners

“I suggest interplanting eggplants with parsley. These two species work together to improve growth, repel pests, and efficiently utilize space!”