Eggplant (Solanum melongena) in open ground, ready for seed harvest
Today I noticed, that the first set eggplant in open ground was dry and wrinkled. Half dehydrated, half rotten, and it has happened in a few days. Luckily this means the seeds are mature and ready for harvest. Honestly, the plant is small, as the fruit was also small, but extremely early to be ready for picking for the kitchen.
Same fruit 17 juli
Same fruit 10 juli
This F2 generation has a great variability. I would definitely like to grow larger aubergines in my garden. Fortunately there are many plants with larger fruits, although not as early. Before I have created a stabile variety I must expect selecting for the best over a decade. Many a lousy eggplant can be expected to show up in my garden under those years. But the process is exciting, making it all worthwhile.
This size eggplants is what I dream about. I succeeded with this plant, but can I harvest mature seeds from it? Can I then stabilize the type, harvesting large eggplant from open ground year after year?
In the toad's garden 
April 27, 2011 at 02:52
I really enjoyed reading your eggplant blog. I would suggest you first concentrate solely on finding (or creating) a strain that reliably matures viable seed in your area and breeds true. Even if the fruits are inedible, these are the critical characteristics you need.
Once you have those characteristics breeding true, you can start working to incorporate them into a tasty, larger-fruited variety. But be aware that a large-fruited variety may simply require more growing time. (Small ones are delicious, and so tender!)
April 28, 2011 at 21:40
Thanks for your advise.
I think the last part, incorporating the characteristics, will be most difficult. I also agree that large fruits just need longer time to grow full size.