Eggplant Solanum melongena ‘Skorospely’
This year I try out some recommended eggplant varieties. I possible it might end up in a new variety to grow outdoor in our cold summers, but it’s not likely to be possible. First I’m on the look-out for parenting candidates, and getting a little more experience growing eggplants. My first criteria will be the ability to produce seeds in my greenhouse. Varieties able to do that will be interesting to me.
One of my first experiences is that flowers differ in a way of possible importance for the risk/chance of crosses. In the varety ‘Skorospely’ the stigma protrudes out of the anther”barrel”. It’s a situation similar to that of the potato-leaved tomato. Thus the stigma can easily be pollinated by insects. The variaty ‘Vera’ keep the stigma inside the anther”barrel” keeping insects at a distance.
This year I will likely do nothing to avoid crosses, hope for the easier breedable to cross if any cross will happen. From my experience with tomatoes and peppers, insects will note be in the waiting line to visit the flowers, but this can be very different in other environments.
But they are rather pretty.
Eggplant Solanum melongena ‘Vera’
Eggplants this year:
Applegreen – I saved seeds of this last year, and they grow well.
Rima F1 – Standard variety in Denmark, recommenden by fellow seedsavers, although it’s a hybrid
Fairy Tale F1 – Recommended by an ecologic gardener as best to try in open ground
Czech Early – Czech variety, from Lieven David
Almaz – Russian, from Lieven David
Diamond – Ukrainian, from Lieven David
Skorospely – Russian, from Lieven David
Vera – from Lieven David
Thai F1 – Thai hybrid, from Leif Siripot
Morden Midget – North American, from Leif Siripot
Lieven send me a lot of eggplant varieties through Patrick, and Leif send me a lot from his home in Thailand. Thanks to all of you. I’ve saved a lot of the varieties for trial next year, as room is limited.
Does a reader know of a eggplant particularly suited for northern conditions I would like to know.
As eggplant is an unreliable crop in Denmark, I can not be responsible to keep a variaty for the future. Fortunately there is a lot of good people around the world taking care of our heirloom, and willing to share seeds.
May 20, 2008 at 12:02
Soren you are way ahead of me. My aubergines (Szechuan from The Heritage Seed Library) are planted out but no flowers as yet. You’ve got a good selection there, I’d be interested to know which ones you think are the best eaters. Happy to send you some Szechuan seeds if they grow well this year.
May 20, 2008 at 20:52
Hi Laura,
I sowed the aubergines in mid march, except Applegreen sown a week later. I have kept them indoors until 11th. of may, when I put them out in the greenhouse. Last night we had low temperatures, a touch of freezing not far from here, but no danger in the greenhouse.
Applegreen is a good eater, even Leif in Thailand recognize that. I have seeds if you want.
January 8, 2009 at 11:31
Szechuan turned out to be a wonderful aubergine and did very well in the less than ideal (cold and cloudy) summer we had here last year. I’ve got seeds so will email you as we were talking of other seeds too I remember.