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Black Beauty Eggplant

Solanum melongena

Price: $2.95

SKU: 3170011

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80 days — 'Black Beauty' is the classic, garden standard for eggplants and commonly seen at farmer's markets and on produce stands.  The broad, lustrous, dark purplish-black egg-shaped fruit range between four to six inches in diameter and are borne well off of the ground on medium sized plants.

Introduced in the 1902 W. Atlee Burpee Seed Annual, it was described as, "During the twenty-six years in which we have been continuously engaged in the seed business this is the first distinct New Egg Plant of any real importance that has been introduced — and BURPEE'S "BLACK BEAUTY" is a novelty of most remarkable merit. It is valuable alike to the private planter and the extensive grower for market."  Each packet contains 0.25 gram, which is approximately 25 seeds.
Although the name or description of this variety refers to a modern company's name, the seed we are offering is in no way sourced from, "owned by" or connected with that company. The name is simply the historically accurate, common name for the variety giving credit to the seedsmen that originally released it.
Planting Instructions: This is a tropical plant and needs warm weather to thrive. A warm growing season of 100 days or more is optimal. They do best in fertile soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.8.

Start seeds indoors eight weeks prior to transplanting. Sow ¼ inch deep in sterile potting mix. Keep moist. Germination temperature is near 80ºF.

Harden off plants before transplanting outside but make sure they are above 60ºF. After the night temperatures are above 55ºF, transplant 12 to 18 inches apart in rows three feet apart.

Harvest the fruit when they are young as they get seedy with age.

Customer Reviews:

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★★★★★ Finally got fruit!
By Sarah Owens on January 27, 2018

It took me three years to figure these plants out. Year 1: Started indoors same time as peppers and transplanted directly into soil once temps were appropriate ... but only got green plants; no flowers; no fruit. Year 2: Figured they needed more heat (my peppers do better in pots than in the ground where we are) so I planted them similarly; flowered but no fruit. Year 3: Planted in pots, added drip irrigation, and mulched with straw. I placed them in a VERY sunny and HOT area of the garden and they did amazing!!! Lots of fruit. They kept on producing, though the second round of fruits was smaller. Amazing grilled, as eggplant parm, and baba ganoush.

★★★★☆ This pains me, but...
By David Emigh on December 1, 2013

I usually have nothing but rave reviews for your seeds, but in an attempt to be honest and complete, I will include this one. Perfect germ, ridiculously hardy plants: survived and returned from the dead after several mishaps (so potential is certainly there), but this was the only crop in my garden the bugs ate; and ate, and ate. I couldn't get ahead of them. I got no eggplant fruits, sadly. Might have potential as a decoy crop?

★★★★★ Awesome Producer
By Kimberly S. on September 5, 2013

I can't keep up with these!!! Taste can't be beat!!!!