Though most people assume eggplants with being synonymous with a purple color and a shape resembling an egg (an oval shape), they can actually range in color from black, to orange and even white. Besides having a botanical identity crisis, they are also one of the fussiest produce in terms of harvest, handling and storage. The The following eggplant varieties are not only easier than some to grow, but they have a flavor that you’ll love. Eggplant is a beautiful plant in the garden, with large foliage and colorful fruit that suspends from above. To avoid the possibility of spreading plant disease, sterilize the blades of your shears or knife before and after cutting by soaking them for five minutes in a solution of equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water. They want a PH between 6.3 and 6.8. BTW- any plant part containing seeds is a fruit, botanically speaking. Not only are eggplants fruits, they’re technically classified as a berry. It bears a fruit of the same name, commonly used as a vegetable in cooking. Eggplant Health Benefits. Myth: Consuming eggplant causes insanity and can be poisonous Eggplant health benefits You have enough reasons to eat this wonderful fruit. Wiktionary tells me that brinjal is what I know as eggplant. In fact, it is a BERRY! Eggplant nutrition is unique because this veggie (which is technically a fruit) contains antioxidants, including nasunin, phenolic compounds and anthocyanin. Eggplants, like most summer veggies, do not like to dry out, so keep a close eye on the soil moisture. Eggplant is one of the world’s most important vegetables. If an eggplant's skin is getting withered and wrinkly, or if the fruit (yeah, eggplant is technically a fruit) is notably soft or squishy, or it just has soft spots anywhere, it's rotting. A staple in countries in South and Southeast Asia, it is widely used in many cuisines. Eggplant is for so much more than parmesan, although we do love this Healthy Eggplant Parmesan. Eggplant is a surprisingly versatile fruit when it comes to nutrition. Why is my eggplant not fruiting? If the skin looks faded and the seeds inside are dark and hard, the fruit will taste bitter. The name eggplant comes from one variety of the fruit that looks similar to a white hen’s egg, giving rise to the other name of “garden eggs.” You can also find different varieties of eggplants with some having black skins, green skins, or white skins. Other types are less egg … As such, eggplant is technically a fruit. Eggplant is a vigorous grower and likes a very rich soil. Ingredient Information Eggplant. It is low in calories but provides fiber, some B vitamins, manganese, vitamin K and folate … Rich in dietary fiber. Eggplant is actually a fruit, specifically a berry. Also it can range of about 6-18 inches long depends on the variety. Learn all about this healthy fruit (yes, it's actually a fruit), why its good for you, how to begin using it at home, and of course some delicious recipes. Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Rinse clean, pat dry, and store in the refrigerator for several days. A vegetative part is one no involve and not a product of reproduction. Fruits with no visible seeds are immature, and hard, dark seeds are found in overripe eggplants. Those longer kind of eggplant are what we called the “Japanese Eggplant”. However, the eggplant is actually a fruit, known in some places as an aubergine. The first varieties of eggplant known to English-speaking people bore colorful eggshaped fruits, thus the name eggplant. Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family as are tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Some even consider it a berry. Your eggplant may be dehydrated from lack of water, or the blossoms may not have been pollinated. The name “eggplant” actually comes from varieties like the Japanese White Egg, which are just the size, shape, and color of eggs. Eggplant is grown for its usually egg-shaped fleshy fruit and is eaten as a cooked vegetable. If the eggplants have flowers but no fruits, it can be because of the temperatures drop. One of the biggest keys of all to growing eggplant is to give it plenty of sunlight. You can find eggplant fruit in hues of white, red, yellow, and green. The eggplant is a delicate, tropical perennial plant often cultivated as a tender or half-hardy annual in temperate climates.The stem is often spiny.The flowers are white to purple in color, with a five-lobed corolla and yellow stamens.Some common cultivars have fruit that is egg-shaped, glossy, and purple with white flesh and a spongy, "meaty" texture. Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is a member of the nightshade family, bearing edible fruit that range in color and size according to cultivar. It’s ideal for container growing. The eggplant, aubergine, melongene, brinjal, or guinea squash (Solanum melongena) is a plant of the family Solanaceae (also known as the nightshades) and genus Solanum. This has a smooth texture and has a oblong shape. File eggplant into the category of most misunderstood vegetables (okay, technically it's a fruit). Are We There Yet? A single eggplant plant can produce several fruit so you will probably only need to grow one plant for your family unless you have a long growing season and you really really like eggplant. Eggplants are quite low in calories but high in fibre which is great to fill you up with the many versatile… Use pruning shears or a knife to cut an eggplant off the vine. This business of male vs female fruits is not a botanical matter. Eggplant, Solanum melongena, is a tropical, herbaceous, perennial plant, closely related to tomato, in the family Solanaceae which is grown for its edible fruit.The plants has a branching stem and simple, long, flat. Belonging to the genus Solanum, eggplant or aubergine is a species of nightshade and is primarily grown for its edible fruit. The wild varieties of this purple or black coloured glossy vegetable can grow up to a length of more than afoot. When growing in pot, you can leave water in the saucer and it should make the plant develop fruit. If you cut open an eggplant fruit and find that the seeds inside have turned brown, the fruit is past prime quality and the flavor may be bitter. In South and South-East Asia, it is commonly known as brinjal. Plant in a location that receives a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day, the more the better. Japanese eggplant may be ready to harvest when the size of a finger or hot dog. All things considered, they are one of my personal favorites to plant in my garden each year. Leave the green calyx attached to the stem end of the fruit. It contains tons of minerals and vitamins, while it is also high in fiber and little but low in calories, both of which can help promote weight loss and keep cholesterol levels low. The Eggplant aka Aubergine is actually a fruit, a berry to be exact. Here are a few of the main health benefits you can get by including eggplant in your diet. -Hannah S. ANSWER: If your eggplant produces flowers, but the blooms fall off before they can develop into fruit, there are two main reasons why this could be happening. Use pruning shears to harvest fruit with a short stub of stem attached, because the fruits will not pull free by hand. Generally, the most common problem is that you are not watering the plant enough or eggplant fails to pollinate. Culinarily, it’s a vegetable, as it’s used in main dishes and not eaten for sweetness. Fairy Tale – One of my favorite types, this prolific plant bears small, slender, light-purple fruits with white splotches. Eggplant or aubergine is a species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.. Botanically, eggplant is a berry, just like blueberries, watermelon, or tomatoes.In botany, a berry is a fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible, relatively soft pericarp. Once again, a nice mulch layer will assist. Although the most common type is large and dark purple, eggplant comes in many sizes (2-12 inches), shapes (oblong to round), and colors (white to green to purple). There are even variegated ones! Advertisement. The characteristics of eggplant fruit are it is color green when young and color violet when ripe. If you cut the eggplant open, the seeds should be soft but formed. In other parts of the world, eggplants are known as aubergine or brinjal. The skin of the fruit should look glossy and unwrinkled and have a uniform color. The fruit of the most popular European and American varieties are fairly large, reaching a size of 5 to 10 inches (12 … The symbol ¬ means “not,” so you believe that every eggplant is a fruit in the botanical sense, and that every eggplant is not a fruit in the culinary one. It grows on a short bush where the berries sprout and hide beneath big leaves, hence the term “nightshade.” coarsely lobed leaves which are green in color and are arranged alternately on the branches. QUESTION: My eggplant is producing flowers, but then they just fall off. Soil, Planting, and Care. In the Philippines, eggplant or talong is the number one vegetable in terms of production area, with an average of 21,225 hectares planted every year. Eggplants are native to Asia and a member of the nightshade family, like tomatoes and peppers. You guys: Eggplant is a FRUIT. The second step is to give “necessary and sufficient conditions” in logic to define the terms. 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